Comprehensive knowledge regarding cervical cancer and its determinants among healthcare providers in Hawassa city public hospitals, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background:  Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide and the second in Ethiopia. Since healthcare providers are central to prevention and early detection, their knowledge is critical for reducing disease burden. The study explored providers’ knowledge of cervical cancer and its prevention, and identified key factors influencing their knowledge in public hospitals of Hawassa city, Ethiopia.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at two public hospitals in Hawassa from July to August 2023, involving 403 healthcare providers selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS 27. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, while bivariable and multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of cervical cancer knowledge. Associations were reported using adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and significance set at p < 0.05.

Result: The study achieved a 96.2% response rate (403/419). The mean knowledge score of the respondents about cervical cancer was 0.44 (SD = 0.15), with 55.1% of healthcare professionals classified as having poor knowledge of cervical cancer and its prevention. In multivariable analysis, female professionals had higher odds of good knowledge (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.54–4.54), and having a sexual partner was positively associated with knowledge (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.52–6.27). Conversely, married participants (AOR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.10–0.41) and respondents in the highest income category (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.12–0.79) had substantially lower odds of demonstrating good knowledge.

Conclusion:  Knowledge of cervical cancer among healthcare professionals remains suboptimal and is influenced by gender, sexual partner status, marital status, and income, indicating that formal qualifications alone do not ensure up to date comprehensive knowledge. Health systems should prioritize regular, competency-based training and integrate cervical cancer prevention into continuous professional development and workplace in service sessions, while aligning these efforts with national cancer control strategies.