ATTITUDE OF FEMALE STUDENTS IN PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN IMO ABOUT CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING

Cervical cancer is a significant health concern and one of the leading causes of death among women globally. This study aimed to examine the attitudes related to cervical cancer screening among female students in public tertiary institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. The study, guided by three research questions and two null hypotheses tested at the 0.05 significance level used a descriptive survey design. A sample of 900 students was selected from a population of 11,825 female undergraduates. The research instrument, “Attitude towards Cervical Cancer Screening Questionnaire (ACCSQ)” was validated and found reliable with coefficient alphas of 0.89. Data were collected through direct delivery and analysed using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics of ANOVA. The findings revealed that most students had a positive attitude toward screening, with a mean attitude score of 53.35. Attitudes of the female students of this study towards cervical cancer screening did not significantly differ based on their ages or their level of education. The study recommended that given the generally positive attitude towards cervical cancer screening, awareness campaigns should be strengthened to further encourage screening participation. These campaigns should target all age groups, emphasizing the importance of early detection and regular screening for cervical cancer. KEYWORDS: Cervical cancer, screening, female students, attitude, public, tertiary institutions