Awareness of Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention among Students of a Tertiary Institution in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To access the level of awareness of cervical cancer screening tools and preventive measures amongst students of a tertiary institution. Methodology: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Pre-tested self-administered Questionnaires were distributed to students who were above the age of 18 years in the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, to obtain information on their socio-demographics and awareness of cervical cancer, its prevention, risk factors and association with Human Papilloma Virus infection. Information acquired from the questionnaires were presented using descriptive statistics. Chi-Square analysis was used to compare differences between knowledge and practice among the respondents. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. All tests were carried out with the Epi Info v7 software. Results: A total of 227 students were interviewed.82.8% were female and 22.9% indicated being sexually active. About two-thirds of respondents had some knowledge (heard) of cervical cancer and Pap smear, majority of whom indicated they did so from health care personnel followed closely by the media houses and social media. Only 12.1% were aware of sexual intercourse as a risk factor for Human Papilloma virus infection and about one-fifth knew the currently recommended age for vaccination against the virus. Conclusion: The degree of awareness of cervical cancer in a key population such as the undergraduates sampled in this study is unacceptably low. Increased efforts must therefore be put into public enlightenment as primary prevention of cervical cancer Aim: To access the level of awareness of cervical cancer screening tools and preventive measures amongst students of a tertiary institution. Methodology: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Pre-tested self-administered Questionnaires were distributed to students who were above the age of 18 years in the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, to obtain information on their socio-demographics and awareness of cervical cancer, its prevention, risk factors and association with Human Papilloma Virus infection. Information acquired from the questionnaires were presented using descriptive statistics. Chi-Square analysis was used to compare differences between knowledge and practice among the respondents. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. All tests were carried out with the Epi Info v7 software. Results: A total of 227 students were interviewed.82.8% were female and 22.9% indicated being sexually active. About two-thirds of respondents had some knowledge (heard) of cervical cancer and Pap smear, majority of whom indicated they did so from health care personnel followed closely by the media houses and social media. Only 12.1% were aware of sexual intercourse as a risk factor for Human Papilloma virus infection and about one-fifth knew the currently recommended age for vaccination against the virus. Conclusion: The degree of awareness of cervical cancer in a key population such as the undergraduates sampled in this study is unacceptably low. Increased efforts must therefore be put into public enlightenment as primary prevention of cervical cancer