Knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical cancer screening and associated factors amongst female students at Wollega University, western Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical cancer screening and associated factors among female students of Wollega University, western Ethiopia in 2017. RESULTS: More than half, 54.4%, of participants had heard about cervical cancer and its risk factors. Only 35.8% knew about screening procedures such as pap smear (61.1%) and visual inspection with application of acetic acid (38.8%). Study participants from age of 21 to 25 years were about six times more likely to have satisfactory knowledge on cervical cancer screening compared to other age groups. Less than half of the study participants (44.1%) had a positive attitude towards cervical cancer screening. None of the study participants had been screened for cervical cancer in the past 3 years. Thus, different governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders need to focus on awareness about cervical cancer, its screening and preventive strategies.