KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS IN KEA-MED MEDICAL COLLEGE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Cervical cancer is a complication of Human Papillomavirus infection is the second most common cancer in women with 529,000 new cases each year worldwide. Eighty percent of the cases occur in low-resource countries. It is also a leading cause of mortality worldwide with 270 000 women every year, out of which 85% deaths occur in the developing world. According to the 2009 World Health Organization report, the age-adjusted incidence rate of cervical cancer in Ethiopia was 35.9 per 100,000 patients with 7600 annual number of new cases and 6000 deaths every year. Despite this fact very few women receive screening services in Ethiopia. Objective: The study aims to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice concerning cervical cancer among female students at Kea-med medical college. Methodology: A cross-sectional study will be conducted from January to March 2017 among 169 female students. Structured self-administered questionnaire will be used for data collection. Data will be analyzed using SPSS. Expected Outcome: Lack of information about cervical cancer will be the commonest reason for not attending cervical cancer screening. Level of knowledge about cervical carcinoma will be associated with attitude towards screening. Those with good level of knowledge would have more positive attitude and practice. Work Plan: The research will be conducted according to the time line put by the public health department of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. Budget:The research budget depends on the amount of resource allocated by the college for under graduate research project.