Knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical cancer screening among female public health students in the university of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common cancer among women aged 15 to 44 years, a period marked by high reproductive activity. Early detection and timely treatment are crucial in reducing mortality rates. A total of 344 female Public Health Students participated in the study using a two-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected electronically using a semi-structured questionnaire administered via the KoboTool Box application. After cleaning, 343 completed responses were analyzed using SPSS Version 27, yielding a 99.7% response rate. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize findings at 5% alpha level. Of the 344 respondents, 157(45.7%) had fair knowledge of CC screening, while 205(59.8%) had a negative attitude towards it. Moreover, 284(82.8%) exhibited poor screening practices. The main barriers included fear or discomfort 198(57.9%), lack of access to facilities 189(55.3%), financial constraints 185(54.1%), and time limitations 175(51.2%). Cultural beliefs and social norms affected screening practices in 131(38.3%) of participants. Significant associations were found between poor knowledge and inadequate practices (χ2 = 18.002, df = 2, p-value < 0.001). This study highlights the critical gaps in CC screening, revealing the prevalent poor practices among they respondents. This study serves as a baseline for improving screening uptake, and targeted health education in the study area. It is recommended that peer-led awareness programs should be integrated into both the university setting and the wider community. Additionally, access to screening facilities should be made available.