Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices onCervical Cancer Screening andHPV Vaccination Among Women inSoutheast Nigeria

• Kenechi Gerald Ike

  FMCPath,Consultant Histopathologist, Department of Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6972-7053

• Bumi Jang

  PhD,Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

  Author

• Daniel Obande Haruna

  MSc,Department of Psychology, St. Mary’s University, London, United Kingdom; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8004-7794

• Abba Sadiq Usman

  MScPH,Nutrition and Health Department, Action Against Hunger, Maiduguri Field Office, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Studies & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Chisom Lucky Emeka

  PhD,Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit/Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control Cluster, World Health Organisation Country Office, Abuja, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Bartholomew Ituma Aleke

  PhD,Faculty of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, Global Banking School, Oxford Brookes University Partnership, Leeds, United Kingdom; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Solomon Atuman

  MPH,FHI 360; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Festus Ituah

  PhD,School of Health and Sports Science, Regent College, London, United Kingdom; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1292-0678

• Barth Onyekachi Nwokedi

  MScPH,Department of InterdisciplinaryResearch & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7111-1564

• Ulunma Ikwuoma Mariere

  FWACP,Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Federal Medical Centre, Bayelsa, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1992-9288

• Oluwafemi Emmanuel Ooju

  MSc,World Health Organization, Abuja, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Oladipo Vincent Akinmade

  MPH,Digital Health and Rights Project (Center for Interdisciplinary Methodologies, CIM), University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5053-2716

• Uju Francisca Onwuegbuzina

  BSc,Department of Health Promotion and Public Health Education, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu

  PhD,Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Kenechi Gerald Ike

  FMCPath,Consultant Histopathologist, Department of Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Uju Francisca Onwuegbuzina

  BSc,Department of Health Promotion and Public Health Education, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu

  PhD,Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5175-1179

• Celestine Emeka Ekwuluo

  MPH,Family Health International,Ukraine; and PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Department of Multidisciplinary Studies & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0153-5475

• Chika Oguguo

  PhD,Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

• Tochukwu Patrick Ugwueze

  MWACP,Department of Family Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1356-5478

• Jerry Soni

  MPH,United Nations World Food Programme, Damascus, Syria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

  Author

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria. According to the latest GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates, there were 13,676 new cases and 7,093 deaths, making it the third most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in the country. Although Nigeria has adopted both national and global strategies supporting HPV vaccination and the elimination of cervical cancer by 2030, the uptake of Pap smear screening and other preventive servicesremains low. Assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of women regarding cervical cancer prevention is essential to identifying gaps in awareness, health communication, and service delivery. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, andpractices regarding cervical cancer, Pap smear screening, and HPV vaccination among women aged 21–65 years in Nnewi-North LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria, and identified barriers to effective prevention and control.Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among women attending primary health centres (PHCs) in Nnewi-North LGA. Using a multistage random sampling method, data were collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cervical cancer prevention. Data were analysed with SPSS version 25 using descriptive and inferential statistics at a significance level of p < 0.05.Results:Of the 427 questionnaires distributed, 402 were completed (response rate = 94.1%). The majority of respondents were aged 21–40 years and 65.2% were married. Most (92%) had heard of cervical cancer, and 58.2% correctly identified HPV infection as its cause. Awareness of Pap smear was moderate (75.9%), but only 11.2% had ever been screened. Major barriers included lack of information on where to test (38.6%) and time constraints (25.4%). Awareness of HPV vaccination was high (86.3%), and 84.6% knew it prevents cervical cancer. Overall, 93.3% expressed willingness to undergo free screening and 96.8% would recommend it to others.Conclusion: Despite high awareness and generally positive attitudes toward cervical cancer prevention, actual uptake of Pap smear screening and HPV vaccination remains low among women in Southeast Nigeria. Educational level emerged as a key determinant of awareness and attitudes, with women who had higher education significantly more likely to be knowledgeable about cervical cancer, Pap smear screening, and HPV vaccination, and more willing to recommend HPV vaccination. Persistent knowledge gaps, sociocultural beliefs, and limited access to services continue to constrain preventive practices. Strengthening community-based health education particularly targeting women with lower educational attainment, improving service accessibility, and integrating cervical cancer screening into routine primary healthcare are essential to reducing the cervical cancer burden.

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Copyright (c) 2026 Kenechi Gerald Ike, Bumi Jang, Daniel Obande Haruna, Abba Sadiq Usman, Chisom Lucky Emeka, Bartholomew Ituma Aleke, Solomon Atuman, Festus Ituah, Barth Onyekachi Nwokedi, Ulunma Ikwuoma Mariere, Oluwafemi Emmanuel Ooju, Oladipo Vincent Akinmade, Uju Francisca Onwuegbuzina, Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu, Kenechi Gerald Ike, Uju Francisca Onwuegbuzina, Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu, Celestine Emeka Ekwuluo, Chika Oguguo, Tochukwu Patrick Ugwueze, Jerry Soni (Author)

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