Abstract
Introduction: Cervical cancer is the most common Gynaecological cancer in Nepal which is preventable if appropriate screening and prevention measures are employed. Considerable reduction in cervical cancer incidence and cervical cancer related deaths can be achieved by effective screening. However, lack of knowledge and awareness can result in underutilization of the preventive measures. 
 Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding cervical cancer screening in women visiting Obstetrics and Gynaecology OPD at tertiary care Hospital in Eastern Nepal. 
 Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in Obstetrics and Gynaecology outpatient department of Birat Medical College Teaching Hospital from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. Women were enrolled in the study by convenient sampling methods. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The collected data was entered in Microsoft excel and analyzed by using SPSS version 22. 
 Results: Among 374 participants, the mean age was 31.13 years. More than three fourth (89.6%) of participants were literate. Regarding occupation, 89.8% of participants were housewives, and 82.9 % of participants were married. As per the findings, only 43.27 % of participants i.e. less than the mean, had adequate knowledge of cervical cancer and its screening. 65.50 % of participants had a negative attitude towards cervical cancer screening. Literate participants had good knowledge and positive attitude regarding cervical cancer screening than illiterate participants (P value less than 0.05). 
 Conclusion Considerable proportions of participants had inadequate knowledge and negative attitude regarding cervical cancer screening in Gynaecological patients visiting tertiary care Hospital in Eastern Nepal.
Highlights
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women
Only 43.27 % of par cipants i.e. less than the mean, had adequate knowledge of cervical cancer and its screening. 65.50 % of par cipants had a nega ve a tude towards cervical cancer screening
The present study was focused in determining the knowledge and a tude regarding cervical cancer screening, which is one of the major factors that determine the success of any screening programs
Summary
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. Worldwide 570 000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 311 000 women died from cervical cancer, in 2018.1 About 2,942 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Nepal and it is most common Gynaecological cancer in women aged 15 to 44 years in Nepal.[2]. Almost 90% of cervical cancer could be prevented if all women were offered and complied with high-quality cytological screening programs.[6] Cervical cancer screening coverage rates is very low (2.4 %) in Nepal.[7] The low coverage of cervical cancer screening in Nepal may be related to a variety of factors, including low socioeconomic status, low literacy and cultural barriers. Due to lack of rou ne screening of cervical cancer, women o en seek care when they develop symptoms, o en at an advanced stage of cervical cancer. 8,9 Sherpa et al highlighted a lack of knowledge regarding the preven ve role of screening of cervical cancer.[10] this study was conducted with the aim to gather informa on regarding the knowledge and a tude regarding cervical cancer screening in women visi ng the ter ary care Hospital in Eastern Nepal
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