Abstract:

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer deaths in developing countries. While incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer have fallen significantly in developing countries. 83% of all new cases that occur annually and 85% of all deaths from the disease occur in developing countries (8). On this research done on the assessment of awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer among female secondary students aged 14-18 years showed that many students are aware that the disease does exist in which about 168 (67.2%) already heard about cervical cancer and most of them about 122 (72.6%) heard through TV and only 30 (17.9%) heard through hospital health professionals, though still the knowledge about the disease is very low as about only 27 (16%) knew that early age of coitus is one of the risk factors and only 47 (28%) knew that abnormal vaginal bleeding is one of the main symptoms and only 34 (20.2%) knew that the disease can be prevented by HPV vaccine.

Objectives: To assess awareness of cervical cancer among female secondary school students age 14-18 years at Nyamagana in Mwanza. To determine the knowledge of the carcinoma of cervix among female secondary students aged 14-18 years at Nyamagana district in Mwanza.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was used to assess the awareness and knowledge among female secondary school students aged 14-18 questionnaires were distributed to the female secondary students who met the criteria for the participation. Data obtained from questionnaire were analyzed by using computer software SPSS version 20 program.

Conclusion: Although cervical is a vaccine preventable disease, its awareness and knowledge in the female secondary students is still very low as revealed in this study which focus on Assessment of knowledge and awareness on the risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer as revealed in data analysis. Now effective education to female secondary students about cervical cancer in needed and the immunization program will help in preventing the consequences of the disease in the community.