Abstract

Aims: Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge globally and is the fourth most common malignancy among women, largely due to poor knowledge and low uptake of cervical cancer screening (CCS). This study aimed to determine the effect of a nurse-led supportive education intervention on women’s knowledge of cervical cancer screening in two selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design involving intervention and control groups was adopted. The study was conducted between March and August 2025. A total of 184 women were selected using a multistage sampling technique, with 92 participants assigned to each group. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire assessing knowledge of CCS at baseline (pre-test) and after intervention (post-test). Participants in the intervention group received a two-week Supportive Education Nursing Intervention Package (SENIP), while the control group received no intervention. Data were coded, cleaned, and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Hypotheses were tested at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: In the control group, there was a slight increase in mean knowledge scores from pre-test (M = 41.07, SD = 16.55) to post-test (M = 48.22, SD = 20.00), but the difference was not statistically significant (t = 4.90, p = 0.101). In contrast, the intervention group showed a marked improvement in knowledge from pre-test (M = 35.71, SD = 15.83) to post-test (M = 71.03, SD = 12.43), with the observed difference being statistically significant (t = 31.30, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study concludes that nurse-led supportive education significantly improves women’s knowledge of cervical cancer screening. This intervention demonstrates strong potential for enhancing CCS awareness and uptake among women in similar settings.

Key words: Cervical cancer screening, Nurse-led educational intervention, Women’s health, Knowledge of cervical cancer, Ebonyi State, Nigeria