Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening among Female Staff of Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study.
1 Department of Community Medicine, Delta State University, P.M.B. 01 Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Community Medicine, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 07 Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria.
Research Article
International Journal of Life Science Research Archive, 2026, 10(02), 007-021.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijlsra.2026.10.2.0028
Publication history:
Received on 24 February 2026; revised on 04 April 2026; accepted on 06 April 2026
Abstract:
Introduction: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria with significant mortality associated with poor screening uptake and late diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cervical cancer screening among female staff at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design and multistage sampling technique were utilized to collect data from 315 respondents using a researcher-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using IBM-SPSS Statistics version 26. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed, and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 39 ± 8 years, and the majority were married (67%) and had a tertiary education (79%). Seventy-five-point nine percent of respondents reported awareness of cervical cancer, while 65.1% knew about screening tests, with the Pap smear being the most recognized test (61.6%). Overall, 47.9% of respondents had good knowledge of cervical cancer screening, 95.2% had a positive attitude towards screening, and only 21.3% had ever undergone screening. Awareness of cervical cancer (p<0.001), knowledge of cervical cancer screening (p=0.003), faculty (p=0.041), type of employment (p=0.011), and type of staff (p=0.003) were significantly associated with the practice of cervical cancer screening.
Conclusion: There were poor knowledge and practice of cervical cancer screening among the study participants. However, there was a general positive attitude toward screening. It is therefore recommended that interventions to enhance cervical cancer screening should be tailored towards improving knowledge and accessibility to screening.
Keywords:
Attitude; Cervical cancer; Delta State University; Knowledge; Practice; Screening.
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