Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed gynecological cancer affecting women worldwide. It is a preventable disease but still remains a leading cause of cancer deaths in developing countries like Nigeria despite the availability of preventive strategies. Undergraduate pharmacy and medical students are future health care providers who can help raise awareness and improve the knowledge of the public towards cervical cancer, its screening, prevention and treatment. The study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of cervical cancer screening and prevention.
 Materials and methods: This is a cross sectional survey using questionnaire conducted in the University of Nigeria and Nnamdi Azikiwe University both in South-eastern Nigeria. Participants were conveniently sampled and the self-administered questionnaire was given to 335 consenting female pharmacy and medicine undergraduate students.
 Results: 335 out of the 350 undergraduate students approached responded (95.7 % response rate). The result of the study shows that the students generally had a good level of awareness of cervical cancer. The students surveyed had a mean knowledge score of 75.9062±20.265. More than a third (36.1%, n = 214) of the students had a negative attitude towards cervical cancer. Only about one in eight students reported to have had a pap smear (12.54%, n = 42).
 Conclusion: The students generally had a good awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer which was not translated into practice. There is a need to include public health principles into the curriculum of Pharmacy and Medical schools in Nigeria since they are future health advisors.
Highlights
Cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed gynecological cancer affecting women worldwide [1]
The study assessed the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of cervical cancer screening among female undergraduate students in two Nigerian universities
The students generally knew about cervical cancer, they had a positive attitude towards cervical cancer screening and prevention but a poor practice of the screening and prevention
Summary
Cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed gynecological cancer affecting women worldwide [1] It is a preventable disease but still remains a leading cause of cancer deaths in developing countries like Nigeria despite the availability of preventive and curative protocols. Cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed gynecological cancer affecting women worldwide It is a preventable disease but still remains a leading cause of cancer deaths in developing countries like Nigeria despite the availability of preventive strategies. Undergraduate pharmacy and medical students are future health care providers who can help raise awareness and improve the knowledge of the public towards cervical cancer, it’s screening, prevention and treatment. The result of the study shows that the students generally had a good level of awareness of cervical cancer. There is a need to include public health principles into the curriculum of Pharmacy and Medical schools in Nigeria since they are future health advisors
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