Knowledge and Awareness of Cervical Cancer, Screening and Vaccination among Female Undergraduates in a Public Tertiary Institution, Enugu Nigeria

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, constituting a major public health problem with a mortality rate that is 18 times higher in low-income countries, including Nigeria, where there are over 8000 annual deaths attributable to cervical cancer. This study assessed the knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer, screening and vaccination among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC).

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 420 female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus using a multistage sampling technique. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer, screening, and vaccination. Data was analyzed with the use of IBM SPSS, version 23.0.Descriptive analysis was done using percentages, and frequencies. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to find the association between variables. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The result revealed that majority of the respondents 90.7% had heard of cervical cancer, 43.7% were aware of the cervical cancer screening test, and 56.6% knew human papillomavirus. 70.2% of the respondents agreed that the Human Papillomavirus vaccine can protect against cervical cancer while 57.8% mentioned bloodstain discharge from the vagina as signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. Furthermore, based on socio-demographic characteristics and level of knowledge of cervical cancer among study respondents, a statistically significant relationship exists between faculty (P=.020) and level of knowledge of cervical cancer.

Conclusion: The study revealed good knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer, and human papillomavirus (HPV) but poor awareness of pap smear test among the study participants. Sustained and targeted comprehensive educational campaigns on cervical cancer, screening and vaccination were recommended.