Effect of Health Education Intervention Programme on Attitude Towards Cervical Cancer Prevention among Female Students in Tertiary Institutions in North-East Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2025110Keywords:
Cervical cancer, health education, attitude, prevention, female students, NigeriaAbstract
Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in the North-East, where incidence and mortality are disproportionately high. Although awareness of cervical cancer is gradually increasing, negative attitudes such as stigma, fear, and misconceptions continue to hinder preventive practices, including screening and vaccination. This study examined the effect of a health education intervention programme on attitude toward cervical cancer prevention among female students in tertiary institutions in North-East Nigeria. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. A total of 180 students were selected through multistage sampling and divided equally into experimental and control groups. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire (reliability coefficient = 0.851) and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a one-sample t-test at the 0.05 significance level, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings revealed a significant positive shift in attitude among the experimental group after the intervention, with post-test aggregate mean scores of 4.960 (universities), 4.4733 (polytechnics), and 4.3711 (colleges of education), all above the decision mean of 3.5 (p < 0.05). Qualitative results corroborated the quantitative findings, as students expressed greater willingness to adopt preventive behaviors, including HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. The study concludes that structured health education interventions are effective in fostering positive attitudes toward cervical cancer prevention among young women in tertiary institutions. It is recommended that such interventions be integrated into health promotion programmes to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria.
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