International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Cervical cancer is the third leading malignancy among women in the world and the leading cause of mortality among women accounting for 23.3% of all cancer deaths. Cervical cancer is a preventable gynecological cancer provided that the HPV infection is detected and established early. The prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer largely depend on the level of awareness and knowledge about different aspects of the disease and its vaccine. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer among urban adolescents. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted, involving 208 participants aged 12 to 19 years. Categorical variables were presented in the form of numbers and percentages and quantitative data as the means ± SD and as median with 25th and 75th percentiles (Interquartile range). The association of the variables was analyzed using the Chi-Square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Kruskal Wallis test.

The results revealed 174 (83.65%) participants had heard about cervical cancer with social media as the main source of knowledge, 142 (68.27%). An overwhelming majority of respondents, 206 (99.04%), indicated they were not aware of any warning signs of cervical cancer. Furthermore, while 120 (57.69%) were aware of the availability of vaccines for the prevention of cervical cancer for females, only 19 (9.13%) were aware of its recommendation for males. Age, education level, and stream of education showed a significant correlation with certain aspects of awareness and prevention (p<0.05).

In conclusion, this study highlights the critical need for improved cervical cancer awareness and prevention among adolescents including boys in urban settings. Appropriate strategies should be developed to provide proper information to this segment of the population. Implementing educational programs in school curricula, increasing healthcare professionals' involvement in patient education, and creating awareness workshops are vital steps to reaching a wider audience.