Nurses, Knowledge and Attitude regarding Cervical Cancer Screening in Erbil City

Abstract

Background and objectives: Cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the cervix and the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Cervical cancer is a condition that can be prevented with the proper screening and prevention techniques. Healthcare practitioners with sufficient expertise, especially nurses, play a crucial role in enlightening the community about the need and availability of screening tests, so it is important to explore the knowledge and attitude of nurses about cervical cancer and screening. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and attitude of nurses towards cervical cancer screening and its associated factors in Erbil city Methods: A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Teaching Hospitals in Erbil City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, from September 1st, 2021, to Septem-ber1st, 2022. Also, nonprobability (convince) sampling techniques were used for a sam-ple, which included 284 nurses. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire designed by the investigator. Descriptive statistics SPSS version 25 was used, and statistics of frequencies, percentages, and inferential statistical analysis of Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used. Results: Less than one-third (25.7%) of the study sample aged between 29–33 years, the majority (94.7%) were married, and less than half (49.30%) of them graduated with a technical diploma. More than one-third (38.7%) had 1–5 years of nursing experience. More than half (53.3%) of the participants achieved a good overall knowledge score and had a positive attitude (95.5%) toward cervical screening. The primary source for obtaining information regarding cervical cancer and screening was healthcare workers (37.6%), followed by medical textbooks (14.8%). There was a highly significant association between age and the overall knowledge of nurses regarding cervical screening (P-value = 0.007). Conclusion: Kurdistan nurses have a good knowledge and a positive attitude regarding cervical cancer screening.