Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Concerning Human Papillomavirus, Cervical Cancer, and its Screening among Female Students of the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Lafia

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer, a preventable disease, remains a major public health issue. Understanding the correlates of awareness, knowledge, and practice is essential for effective intervention. This study evaluated these factors among female health-focused undergraduates in Lafia, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 participants. Data on socio-demographic, awareness, knowledge, and practices related to cervical cancer were collected via a self-administered questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.

Results: Overall awareness was high (94% had heard of cervical cancer), but detailed knowledge was poor, with only 19% achieving a good knowledge score. Misconceptions were common, and preventive practices were low: only 11% had been screened and 14% vaccinated. Bivariate analysis identified significant associations: the type of secondary school attended (p = 0.027), mother's education (p = 0.033), and family type (p = 0.021) were associated with awareness of cervical cancer screening. Paternal education was significantly associated with knowledge level (p = 0.036). The uptake of screening was associated with the mother's education (p = 0.039) and employment status (p = 0.017).

Conclusion: This study showed high awareness but poor knowledge and practice of cervical screening among the students. The findings underscore that socio-educational factors, family background, continuous learning and relearning are key to practising what has been learnt. Targeted educational campaigns and strict monitoring are needed to translate awareness into actionable knowledge and improve the uptake of cervical cancer prevention services.