Savannah Journal of Medical Research and Practice 2013;2(2):46-54 ORIGINAL ARTICLE 46 Abstract Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy in women worldwide with a high incidence in developing countries and Nigeria is one of these countries. Despite this, majority of the women in these countries have poor knowledge of cervical cancer. Aims/Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the knowledge of symptoms and risk factors for cervical cancer among women in Olufadi community, Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving women aged 25-64 years. Respondents were selected through systematic sampling of households. Interviewer- administered pre-tested semi- structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 15. Results: Only 59 (29.5%) respondents had some knowledge of symptoms of cervical cancer with 9 (4.5%) of them having good knowledge. Also, 53 (26.5%) had appreciable knowledge of the risk factors with only 20 (10.0%) of them demonstrating good knowledge. Age of respondents, age at marriage and attainment of tertiary education were significant predictors of knowledge of cervical cancer among the respondents. Conclusion: The poor knowledge of cervical cancer demonstrated by respondents in this study underscores the need for urgent community mobilization and use of educational resources to disseminate information on cervical cancer. Key words- Knowledge, cervical cancer, Nigeria Knowledge Of Cervical Cancer And Its Socio-demographic Determinants Among Women In An Urban Community Of North-central Nigeria 1¤ 4 3** 4** 2** 1¤ Durowade KA, **Osagbemi GK, Salaudeen AG, Musa OI, Bolarinwa OA, Babatunde OA, 5* 1¤¤ 5¤¤ 6 Adebola OE, Abubakar-Akanbi AS , Ano-Edward GH, *Fasiku MM ¤ Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria ** Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria *Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria ¤¤ Department of Pathology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria 1. Consultant 2. Lecturer 1/Consultant 3. Senior lecturer/Consultant 4. Associate Professor/Consultant 5. Senior Registrar 6. Registrar Corresponding Author Dr K.A. Durowade Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria P. O. Box 256, Ilorin, Nigeria. E-mail: kadurowade@yahoo.com Phone: +2348056437530 Introduction Cervical cancer is a disease of women in the reproductive age group and it is one of the cancers affecting the reproductive system of women. It forms in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and the vagina) 1 and presents with varying symptoms. Women with cervical cancer may experience abnormal vaginal bleeding, most often after intercourse (post-coital bleeding), douching, or pelvic exam. Spotting or heavier bleeding may occur between periods, or periods may be unusually 2-4 heavy. Irregular vaginal bleeding has been adjudged the commonest complaint of patients with cancer of the cervix and any such bleeding during the reproductive and menopausal years should be considered as being due to cancer of the cervix until proven otherwise. Such chronic 5 blood loss will often cause anaemia. It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may also be symptomless but can be found with regular Pap smear, a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a