Journals© 2014. All rights reserved This work by Wilolud Journals is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License 1 Continental J. Nursing Science 6 (1): 1 - 11, 2014 ISSN: 2141 - 4173 © Wilolud Journals, 2014 http://www.wiloludjournal.com Printed in Nigeria doi:10.5707/cjnsci.2014.6.1.1.11 ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OF AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG UNIVERSITY OF JOS FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES Gimba 1 , Solomon Musa, Emmanuel 1 , Andy, Afoi, Barry Baidi 2 ., Mangai 1 ,Mafuyai Joseph and Bukuta, Godiya 1 Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos. 2 College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kafanchan. ABSTRACT Cervical cancer screening has been reported by several researchers to influence the incidence and prognosis of cancer. The knowledge of people towards this screening have been said to influence attitudes towards practice. The researchers therefore sort to assess the knowledge and attitudes of the student population in the University of Jos. A sample size of 120 was selected from the population of study. A descriptive survey design was used to assess the knowledge and attitudes of respondents and the findings were illustrated and interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistics. The researchers among other findings found out that only 33.04% have ever heard of Pap smear, among which only about 55.10% related it cervical cancer. Only 7.89% knew the recommended age for the screening and only 10.53% were aware of the frequency. About 53.04% felt that the test is relevant to them. Also 50.50% intend to do the test. About 63.63% said lack of knowledge about the test is the reason for not practicing Pap smear. The findings indicate that even though the respondents’ knowledge was grossly inadequate, the respondents showed positive attitudes towards the test. The relationship between knowledge and attitude was significant, indicating that their knowledge did influence their attitude towards cervical cancer screening. KEYWORDS: Cervical cancer, Pap smear, undergraduate female students, knowledge and attitude. Received for Publication: 23/01/14 Accepted for Publication: 20/03/14 Corresponding Author: kingimba@yahoo.com INTRODUCTION The disease represents a unique public health opportunity unlike other cancers, it is preventable when detected and treated at an early; otherwise, it is almost always fatal (Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention (ACCP), 2004). While a woman in the United States has a 70% chance of surviving cervical cancer, the chance is reduced to 58% in Thailand, 42% in India, and 21% in Sub-Saharan Africa (Bishop, Wells, Sherris, Tsu and Crook, 1995). In high income countries, the availability of cervical screening programs and treatment in a wide variety of service delivery channels has drastically reduced the incidence of cervical cancer, contrasting that of developing countries where up to 80% of the estimated 280 thousand annual deaths from the disease worldwide occurs as a result of very few programs offering relatively comprehensive screening (Sherris, Wells, Tsu and Crook, 1993). According to American Cancer Society (ACS), (2011), all women should begin cervical cancer screening about 3 years after they begin having vaginal intercourse but no later than 21years of age. Screening should be done every year with the regular Pap test or every 2 years using the newer liquid based Pap test. Beginning at age 30, women who have had three (3) normal Pap test results in a row may get screened every 2-3 years. Women older than 30 years may also get screened every three (3) years with either the conventional or liquid bases Pap test, plus HPV