Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Cervical Cancer Screening Among Female Undergraduates in the University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT
Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer in lower Human Development Index (HDI) settings, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-Eastern Asia, where it is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Fortunately, it is preventable by early detection of precancerous lesions through the use of various screening tools. This screening can be possible if female undergraduates have good knowledge of cervical cancer and also if they have positive attitude towards screening. Four specific objectives were formulated to guide the study. The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study design. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to get the 400 sample size that was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a five sectioned semi-structured questionnaire and SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices towards cervical cancer screening among female undergraduates in the University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Findings from the study revealed significant gaps in knowledge, with 330(82.5%) of respondents displaying poor knowledge of cervical cancer, despite 215(53.8%) having a positive attitude towards screening. Alarmingly, 373(93.3%) demonstrated inadequate screening practices. A significant portion, 232(41.8%), reported that the high cost of screening is a major barrier. Additionally, 90(23.0%) indicated that family influence plays a crucial role in their decision to get screened. Based on the results, it was recommended that the institution management should implement targeted health education campaigns within the university to increase awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer, advocate for subsidized or free cervical cancer screening for female undergraduates, and recognize the influence of family and cultural factors on health behaviors by involving families and community leaders in educational efforts.

Keywords: Knowledge, attitude, practices, cervical cancer screening, female undergraduates
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