title: Cervical Cancer Knowledge, Perceptions and Screening Behaviour Among Female University Students in Ghana.
abstract: Cervical cancer is becoming a leading cause of death among women in developing countries. Nevertheless, little is known regarding knowledge and perception of cervical cancer and screening behaviour particularly among female tertiary students in Ghana. This study sought to examine the knowledge and perceptions of cervical cancer and screening behaviour among female students in the University of Cape Coast and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in Ghana. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. Systematic and stratified random sampling techniques were used to select 410 participants for the study. The study found that the participants lacked knowledge on specific risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer. Also, even though the participants had a fair perception of cervical cancer, they had a poor cervical cancer screening behaviour. Awareness of cervical cancer was significantly influenced by religious affiliation while cervical cancer screening was significantly determined by the working status of the participants. Specific knowledge on cervical cancer and its risk factors as well as regular screening behaviour is paramount to the prevention of cervical cancer. Consequently, the University Health Services should focus on promoting regular cervical cancer awareness campaigns and screening among the students particularly, females.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Service and Governance, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Charity
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Binka
authors.affiliation: Department of Population and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana. samharrenson@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samuel H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Nyarko
authors.affiliation: Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Doku
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005869:Ghana; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cervical cancer; Female students; Ghana; Knowledge and perception