This study evaluated the effect of an educational intervention on awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer and its screening among market women in Ibadan, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was adopted, involving 184 participants selected through multistage sampling and divided equally into intervention and control groups. Data were collected using a validated semi-structured questionnaire, and analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics at a 5% significance level. Findings revealed that baseline awareness of cervical cancer screening was low and comparable between groups, with 48.9% in the intervention group and 52.2% in the control group. Following the intervention, awareness increased significantly to 89.1% in the intervention group, while it remained unchanged at 52.2% in the control group. Knowledge of cervical cancer also improved substantially, with good knowledge rising from 45.7% to 93.5% in the intervention group compared to 47.8% to 51.1% in the control group (p = 0.0001). Similarly, knowledge of cervical cancer screening increased from 41.3% to 89.1% in the intervention group versus 47.8% to 51.1% in the control group (p = 0.0001). Independent t-test results further confirmed significant differences between groups ([t = 9.258, p < 0.05] and [t = 8.712, p < 0.05]). The study concluded that educational intervention significantly improved awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer and its screening.
Keywords: Knowledge, awareness, educational intervention, market women
