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@article{209582,
        author = {Ms. Rutuja Babarao Sontakke and Mr. Subodh Shalikram Rathod},
        title = {Effectiveness of Health Education Regarding Prevention of Cervical Cancer Among Students Studying in Selected Junior College of Vidarbha Region Maharashtra.},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {5},
        pages = {2328-2334},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=209582},
        abstract = {Background: Cervical cancer is an important public health problem and is largely preventable through appropriate health education, HPV vaccination, early detection, screening, personal hygiene, and adoption of preventive practices. Lack of adequate knowledge regarding risk factors, symptoms, prevention, vaccination, and screening may delay preventive action. Adolescence and the junior-college period provide an appropriate opportunity for health education because students can acquire accurate knowledge and develop positive health-related practices. The present study was therefore undertaken to assess the effectiveness of health education regarding prevention of cervical cancer among students studying in selected junior colleges of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The study was guided by the Health Belief Model, which considers perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, modifying factors, and cues to action.
Objectives: The primary objective was to assess the effectiveness of health education regarding prevention of cervical cancer among students. The secondary objectives were to assess the pre-test knowledge, assess the post-test knowledge after the educational intervention, compare pre-test and post-test knowledge scores, and determine the association between knowledge scores and selected demographic variables.
Methods: A quantitative research approach was adopted. The study was conducted among junior college students in selected junior colleges of Vidarbha region, Maharashtra. The study included a total sample of 60 students, with 30 students in the experimental group and 30 students in the control group. The sampling technique used was non-probability convenience sampling. The sample-size section reported calculation using the Cochran formula, with a calculated requirement of approximately 56.70 participants and a final sample of 60 students.
Results: In the experimental group, the pre-test mean knowledge score was 14.33 ± 4.237, representing approximately 47.8%, and the post-test mean score increased to 25.00 ± 4.017, representing approximately 83.33%. In the experimental group, before the intervention, 50% had good knowledge, 26.7% had average knowledge, 20% had very good knowledge, 3.3% had poor knowledge, and none had excellent knowledge. After the intervention, 63.3% achieved excellent knowledge, 26.7% achieved very good knowledge, and 10% achieved good knowledge; no participant remained in the poor or average categories.
The increase in experimental-group knowledge was statistically significant. The paired t-test yielded t = 16.754, p = 0.0001, indicating a statistically significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores at the 0.05 level. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative hypothesis was accepted for the intervention effect.},
        keywords = {Cervical cancer; Health education; Prevention; Knowledge; Junior college students; HPV; Screening; HPV vaccination; Experimental group; Control group; Vidarbha; Maharashtra.},
        month = {October},
        }