Abstract:
BACKGROUND : The rise in cervical cancer trends in the past two decades has coincided with the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic especially in the sub-Saharan African region. Young people (15 to 24 years
old) are associated with many risk factors such as multiple sexual partners, early sexual debut, and high HIV
incidences, which increase the chances of developing cervical cancer. The National Cancer Prevention and Control
Strategy for Zimbabwe (2014–2018) highlights that no cancer communication strategy focusing on risk factors as
primary cancer prevention. Therefore, the study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of young
people in Zimbabwe on cervical cancer, screening, human papillomavirus (HPV) and vaccination.
METHODS : A cross-sectional survey assessing young people’s knowledge, attitude and practices concerning cervical
cancer was conducted in five provinces in Zimbabwe. A total of 751 young people were recruited through a threestage
cluster design from high schools and universities. Knowledge, attitudes and practices were assessed using
questions based and adapted from the concepts of the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Cervical Cancer
Measuring tool kit-United Kingdom (UK).
RESULTS : Most young people, 87.47% (656/750) claimed to know what the disease called cervical cancer is, with a
mean score of 89.98% [95% CI 73.71.11–96.64] between high school and 86.72% [95% CI 83.48–89.40] among
university students. There was no significant difference in mean scores between high school and university
students (p = 0.676). A risk factor knowledge proficiency score of ≥13 out of 26 was achieved in only 13% of the
high school respondents and 14% of the university respondents with a broad range of misconceptions about
cervical cancer risk factors in both females and males. There was not much difference on comprehensive
knowledge of cervical cancer and its risk factors between female and male students, with the difference in
knowledge scores among high school (p = 0.900) and university (p = 0.324) students not statistically significant. In
contrast, 43% of respondents heard of cervical cancer screening and prevention, and 47% knew about HPV transmission and prevention. Parents’ educational level, province and smoking, were some of the factors associated
with knowledge of and attitude towards cervical among high school and university students.
CONCLUSION : This study revealed that young people in Zimbabwe have an idea about cervical cancer and the
seriousness thereof, but they lack adequate knowledge of risk factors. Cervical cancer education and awareness
emphasising causes, risk factors and care-seeking behaviours should be commissioned and strengthen at the
community, provincial and national level. Developing a standard cervical cancer primary prevention tool that can
be integrated into schools can be a step towards addressing health inequity.
