KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AND VACCINATION AMONG WOMEN IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL, ABUJA NIGERIA

Background: Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer morbidity and mortality among women in low- and middle-income countries, despite being largely preventable through screening and vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) studies provide valuable insights for designing effective preventive interventions. This study assessed the KAP of cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination among women in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 244 women aged 15–49 years. The participants were recruited through systematic random and cluster sampling. Data were collected using structured interviewer-administered and self-administered questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21. Associations between socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and vaccination practice were evaluated using chi-square tests at a significance level of p < 0.05.Results: More than half of the participants (54.5%) demonstrated good knowledge of HPV vaccination, while 45.5% had poor knowledge. Despite this high knowledge, uptake of HPV vaccination was very low (6.1%). Vaccination was highest among students (10.3%) and women with secondary education (11.1%). Knowledge (p = 0.041) and positive attitude (p = 0.018) were significantly associated with vaccination uptake. However, socio-demographic variables such as age and marital status were not significantly associated.Conclusion: The study revealed a wide gap between knowledge and practice of cervical cancer prevention in the study population. While awareness of HPV vaccination was relatively high, uptake was alarmingly low. Positive attitudes were strongly linked to vaccination practice, highlighting the need for interventions that address both structural and behavioral barriers.