Gender-Based Violence and Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake: A Retrospective Cohort Data Set from Jos, Nigeria

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a significant public health issue and a recognised barrier to healthcare access in Nigeria. Cervical cancer screening uptake remains low in many sub-Saharan African settings. Understanding potential links between GBV exposure and screening hesitancy is necessary for developing effective interventions. This data descriptor presents a retrospective cohort data set compiled to investigate the association between self-reported exposure to GBV and cervical cancer screening uptake among women in Jos, Nigeria. The primary objective was to create a structured, analysable data set to enable research into this potential barrier to preventive healthcare. Data were extracted and anonymised from the clinical records of women attending a large primary care facility. The data set includes demographic variables, self-reported history of GBV (categorised by type), and documented cervical cancer screening status. Data cleaning and structuring followed established protocols for retrospective cohort data. This is a descriptor of the data set itself; it contains no empirical research findings. The data set is structured and ready for analysis. A notable feature is the inclusion of categorised GBV exposure (physical, sexual, emotional, and economic) alongside screening outcome variables. This curated data set provides a resource for researchers investigating the intersection of gender-based violence and reproductive health service utilisation in a Nigerian context. It offers a foundation for quantitative analysis of the hypothesised link between GBV and cervical cancer screening hesitancy. Researchers are encouraged to utilise this data set for secondary analysis. Future primary data collection should consider employing standardised GBV measurement tools and exploring mediating factors, such as psychological distress or social support. Gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, cervical cancer screening, healthcare access, Nigeria, data set This data descriptor provides a structured, analysable retrospective cohort data set for investigating the association between gender-based violence and cervical cancer screening uptake in a Nigerian urban setting, facilitating secondary research on this public health issue.