Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Nigeria: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies

Background Cervical cancer is a prominent cause of death for women in low-resource settings, notably in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the availability of viable screening tools, acceptance remains extremely low in rural Nigerian areas. Aim: The purpose of this review was to identify and synthesise barriers to cervical cancer screening for women in rural Nigeria. The findings will guide policy and health promotion activities. Methods A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 principles. Five electronic databases—PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, African Journals Online (AJOL), and EMBASE—were searched for peer-reviewed quantitative studies published in English from 2010 to 2024. The search approach included keywords and MeSH phrases for cervical cancer, screening, obstacles, rural populations, and women's health. Studies that addressed screening difficulties among women in rural Nigerian settings were selected. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) criteria. Due to the variability of the study design and outcome measures, data were synthesised using a narrative approach. Findings The study included ten research with nearly 3,000 women from various locations in Nigeria. Barriers were divided into five categories: knowledge gaps (e.g., low awareness, misconceptions), health system limitations (e.g., lack of provider recommendation, poor attitudes), psychosocial and cultural constraints (e.g., fear of results, stigma, male dominance), economic barriers (e.g., cost of screening, transportation), and logistical/access issues (e.g., distance to facilities, time constraints). Screening rates varied among studies, ranging from 4.2–18.4%. Conclusion In rural Nigeria, low cervical cancer screening uptake is caused by multiple variables, including structural, informational, cultural, and economic. Addressing these barriers necessitates culturally sensitive, community-engaged, and policy-driven strategies that improve access, lower costs, and incorporate screening into primary care.