KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE REGARDING CERVICAL CANCER AND ITS PREVENTION AMONG FEMALES IN TABUK UNIVERSITY, KSA.

Cervical cancer is considered as the third most common type of cancer worldwide and the fifth most frequent cancer in female aged group between 30-44 years in Saudi Arabia (KSA). However it is considered as preventable disease, as many prevention strategies were developed in order to combat its occurrence. Objectives: to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of females in Tabuk University concerning cervical cancer, its vaccine and screening method. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted out in the female section of Tabuk University, KSA, using a multistage stratified random sampling technique; 215 female subjects from medical and non-medical collages in Tabuk University were selected to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding cervical cancer, it's vaccination and Pap smear. Results: the knowledge of the female (staff, administrative members and students) in the medical college was significantly higher than non-medical ones regarding their general awareness about cancer cervix, most of its risk factors, and the symptoms of cervical cancer. Furthermore, their knowledge about how the cervical cancer can be prevented and the availability of vaccines that can decrease the incidence of cervical cancer were more in the medical college females , with p value ≤0.05. The media represents the highest source of knowledge for both groups while physician roles in raising public awareness were the least based on this study. Being in the medical college and going through reproductive module and gynecology rotation represents an important source in the medical college group (35.9%) with p value ≤0.05. The attitude of the staff members in both groups towards willingness to give their daughter HPV vaccine were significantly higher among female staff in the medical group (79.0%). however, the practice of Pap smear in both of the groups are around (24.0%) which is considered low. In contrary, the attitude of the medical students regarding HPV vaccine were not significantly different from the students in non- medical college with p value p >0.05. Even more the students in non-medical college group there attitude towards Pap smear information and going through Pap smear screening program were significantly higher than the students in medical group with p value ≤0.05.