• Chris O Ifediora and Emmanuel C Azuike.
• Griffith University Medical School, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
• Trop. Med. Int. Health. 2018 Jul 1; 23 (7): 714-723.

ObjectiveTo ascertain the level of awareness and attitudes towards cervical cancer among secondary school students in Nigeria.MethodCross-sectional survey of 432 female senior secondary school students in south-eastern Nigeria.ResultsA total of 321 (74.3%) responses were valid; 42.7% had heard of cervical cancer, 32.8% of screening, 23.2% of Pap smears and 22.0% of HPV/HPV vaccinations. No widely available reliable source of information exists. General knowledge about Pap smears (41.8%) and HPV (43.1%) was poor, as was specific knowledge about their benefits, timing and frequency, and about HPV vaccinations, but associated attitudes were moderately positive at 60.2% and 65.1%, respectively. Awareness of cervical cancers increases knowledge about when to start screening (OR = 2.30; P = 0.02) and about early symptoms of cervical cancer (OR = 2.56; P = 0.001).ConclusionOverall knowledge of cervical cancer is poor, but attitudes are positive. Awareness campaigns are therefore necessary, and are expected to be effective. Campaigns should target teenage females, and commencing teaching in high schools of developing countries, through materials included in their academic curricula, is recommended.© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

30 keywords...

hide…