Knowledge, attitude, practices and awareness of cervical cancer among female medical students at Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20263159Keywords:
Cervical cancer, Human papillomavirus, Pap smear test, ScreeningAbstract
Background: Cervical cancer, major health problem particularly in South Asia. While it is preventable via vaccination and screening, even were knowledge and practice gaps, among future health care providers. Study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, practice and awareness (KAP) regarding cervical cancer among the female medical students at faculty of indigenous medicine (FIM), University of Colombo (UoC).
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 indigenous medical students at Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka, from January–March 2023. Simple randomization was done Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Among 116 students, 86.21% of the eligible students responded to this study. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics in Ms excel.
Results: Most students (90%) aware about cervical cancer, but only (46%) knew that it is preventable. Awareness of risk factors was good, HPV infection (89%) and multiple sexual partners (81%). Symptom awareness was moderate: intermenstrual bleeding (59%) and post-coital bleeding (41%). Despite the high level of awareness about treatment for cervical cancer (84%), but inadequate screening practice, with only 1/14 (7.14%) of married students stating they were screened. The major problem was lack of information (84.62%). Attitudes were favourable with 87% feeling that screening helps to prevent.
Conclusions: Students aware of cervical cancer’s risk factor but lacked knowledge about the symptoms, prevention and screening practices. Targeted education and screening access are needed.
References
Wu J, Jin Q, Zhang Y. Global burden of cervical cancer: current estimates, temporal trend and future projections based on the GLOBOCAN 2022. J Natl Cancer Cent. 2025;5:322-9.
Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018;68(6):394-424.
Khan A, Abonyi S, Neudorf C, Galea S, Ahmed S. Barriers to and facilitators of human papillomavirus vaccination in an ethnically diverse group of migrant parents: A qualitative mixed methods study. Human Vacc Immunotherap. 2023;19(3):2269721.
World Health Organization. Cervical cancer. World Health Organization website. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cervical-cancer. 2025. Accessed on 2nd December 2025.
Demarco M, Egemen D, Raine-Bennett TR. A Study of Partial Human Papillomavirus Genotyping in Support of the 2019 ASCCP Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2020;24(2):144-7.
Chen W, Zhang X, Molijn A. Human papillomavirus type-distribution in cervical cancer in China: the importance of HPV 16 and 18. Cancer Causes Control. 2009;20(9):1705-13.
Mittal S, Banks L. Molecular mechanisms underlying human papillomavirus E6 and E7 oncoprotein-induced cell transformation. Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res. 2017;772:23-35.
Adler DH, Wallace M, Bennie T. Cervical dysplasia and high-risk human papillomavirus infections among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected adolescent females in South Africa. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2014;2:498048.
Clements AE, Raker CA, Cooper AS, Boardman LA. Prevalence and patient characteristics associated with CIN 3 in adolescents. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011;204(2):128-7.
Louie KS, de Sanjose S, Diaz M. Early age at first sexual intercourse and early pregnancy are risk factors for cervical cancer in developing countries. Br J Cancer. 2009;100(7):1191-7.
Muñoz N, Franceschi S, Bosetti C. Role of parity and human papillomavirus in cervical cancer: the IARC multicentric case-control study. Lancet. 2002;359(9312):1093-101.
Asthana S, Busa V, Labani S. Oral contraceptives use and risk of cervical cancer-A systematic review & meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2020;247:163-75.
Gadducci A, Barsotti C, Cosio S, Domenici L, Riccardo Genazzani A. Smoking habit, immune suppression, oral contraceptive use and hormone replacement therapy use and cervical carcinogenesis: a review of the literature. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2011;27(8):597-604.
Momenimovahed Z, Salehiniya H. Incidence, mortality and risk factors of cervical cancer in the world. Biomed. Res. Ther. 2017;4(12):1795-811.
Heena H, Durrani S, AlFayyad I. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards Cervical Cancer and Screening amongst Female Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Oncol. 2019;2:5423130.
Zhang S, Xu H, Zhang L, Qiao Y. Cervical cancer: Epidemiology, risk factors and screening. Chin J Cancer Res. 2020;32(6):720-8.
Warnakulasuriya S. Burket's oral medicine: diagnosis and treatment. British Dental Journal. 2003;194(10):579.
Gamarra CJ, Paz EP, Griep RH. Knowledge, attitudes and practice related to Papanicolaou smear test among Argentina's women. Rev Saude Publica. 2005;39(2):270-6.
Everett T, Bryant A, Griffin MF, Martin-Hirsch PP, Forbes CA, Jepson RG. Interventions targeted at women to encourage the uptake of cervical screening. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;2011(5):2834.
Debellut F, Gamage D, Kumar S. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in Sri Lanka: Ongoing costs and operational context of a routinized program. Vaccine X. 2024;17:100456.
Cheng L, Wang Y, Du J. Human Papillomavirus Vaccines: An Updated Review. Vaccines (Basel). 2020;8(3):391.
Bello FA, Enabor OO, Adewole IF. Human papilloma virus vaccination for control of cervical cancer: a challenge for developing countries. African J Reprod Health. 2011;15(1):25-30.
Li H, Pang Y, Cheng X. Surgery of primary sites for stage IVB cervical cancer patients receiving chemoradiotherapy: a population-based study. J Gynecol Oncol. 2020;31(1):8.
Cohen PA, Jhingran A, Oaknin A, Denny L. Cervical cancer. Lancet. 2019;393(10167):169-82.
Tewari KS, Monk BJ. The rationale for the use of non-platinum chemotherapy doublets for metastatic and recurrent cervical carcinoma. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2010;8(2):108-15.
Tewari KS, Monk BJ. Gynecologic oncology group trials of chemotherapy for metastatic and recurrent cervical cancer. Curr Oncol Rep. 2005;7(6):419-34.
Kagabu M, Nagasawa T, Sato C. Immunotherapy for Uterine Cervical Cancer Using Checkpoint Inhibitors: Future Directions. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(7):2335.
Burmeister CA, Khan SF, Schäfer G. Cervical cancer therapies: Current challenges and future perspectives. Tumour Virus Res. 2022;13:200238.
Priyadarshani HS, Arunasalam S, Noordeen F. Knowledge, attitude and practices towards human papillomavirus infection, vaccination and cervical cancer among paramedical students at a Sri Lankan University. Sri Lankan J Infect Dis. 2023;13(1):31-40
Jassim G, Obeid A, Al Nasheet HA. Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding cervical cancer and screening among women visiting primary health care Centres in Bahrain. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):128.
Mutyaba T, Mmiro FA, Weiderpass E. Knowledge, attitudes and practices on cervical cancer screening among the medical workers of Mulago Hospital, Uganda. BMC Med Educ. 2006;6:13.
Bekele HT, Nuri A, Abera L. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Toward Cervical Cancer Screening and Associated Factors Among College and University Female Students in Dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia. Cancer Inform. 2022;21:14808.
Al-Darwish AA, Al-Naim AF, Al-Mulhim KS, Al-Otaibi NK, Morsi MS, Aleem AM. Knowledge about cervical cancer early warning signs and symptoms, risk factors and vaccination among students at a medical school in Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15(6):2529-32.
Al Sairafi M, Mohamed FA. Knowledge, attitudes and practice related to cervical cancer screening among Kuwaiti women. Med Princ Pract.2009;18(1):35-42.
Bansal AB, Pakhare AP, Kapoor N, Mehrotra R, Kokane AM. Knowledge, attitude and practices related to cervical cancer among adult women: A hospital-based cross-sectional study. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2015;6(2):324-8.
Mwaka AD, Orach CG, Were EM, Lyratzopoulos G, Wabinga H, Roland M. Awareness of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms: cross-sectional community survey in post-conflict northern Uganda. Health Expect. 2016;19(4):854-67.
Gichangi P, Estambale B, Bwayo J. Knowledge and practice about cervical cancer and Pap smear testing among patients at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2003;13(6):827-33.
Zhang M, Wang L, Zhang X. Cervical cancer screening coverage among women in China 2023-2024. China CDC Wkly. 2025;7(10):1-6.
Ampofo AG, Boyes AW, Khumalo PG, Mackenzie L. Improving knowledge, attitudes and uptake of cervical cancer prevention among female students: A systematic review and meta-analysis of school-based health education. Gynecol Oncol. 2022;164(3):675-90.
Ali-Risasi C, Mulumba P, Verdonck K, Vanden Broeck D, Praet M. Knowledge, attitude and practice about cancer of the uterine cervix among women living in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. BMC Women’s Health. 2014;14(1):30.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
