Awareness and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Female Nurses at General Hospital, Calabar

Background: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death among women in Nigeria, yet healthcare worker participation in screening programmes is paradoxically low, undermining advocacy efforts. Aim: This study evaluated awareness and practice of cervical cancer screening among female nurses at General Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study used a structured questionnaire to survey 90 female registered nurses recruited by total enumeration. Data were analysed with SPSS version 26 using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test. Results: Ninety-one percent of respondents demonstrated high awareness of cervical cancer and its risk factors. However, only 34% had ever undergone Pap smear or visual inspection with acetic acid screening. Reasons for non-participation included time constraints, perceived personal invulnerability, and cost. Conclusion: A substantial gap between nurse awareness and screening uptake was identified. The study recommends hospital-based free screening services for staff, peer-led campaigns, and nursing leadership engagement to promote preventive health behaviour among nurses and, by extension, the communities they serve. Keywords: cervical cancer, screening, nurses, Calabar, preventive health.