Knowledge, attitude, practices, and associated factors toward cervical cancer among female health sciences students of Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Early screening and vaccination can prevent cervical cancer; however, the low levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice among the young can contribute to the high prevalence of cervical cancer.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of cervical cancer and associated factors among female Health Sciences students of the College of Health Sciences at Addis Ababa University.

Design

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2022 to June 2022 among regular undergraduate female Health Sciences students of Addis Ababa University.

Methods

Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS. Results were presented using descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis was conducted to look at the existence of significant associations and determine adjusted odds ratio. Statistical significance was declared at p-value ⩽0.05.

Results

The majority of the study participants were within the age range of 18-24 years. From the 305 female Health Sciences students, almost all had heard about cervical cancer and 93.4% of them reported that human papillomavirus is the causative agent. About 75% of the respondents recognized at least one possible symptom of cervical cancer. Furthermore, nearly 70% and 78.3% of the participants showed positive attitudes toward taking and recommending human papillomavirus vaccines respectively. Only 16.1% and 48.9% of the respondents have good knowledge, and a positive attitude respectively. Surprisingly only 1.6% and 0.3% of the respondents have taken the human papillomavirus vaccine and undergone cervical screening respectively. Radiography technology students are about 86% less likely to have good knowledge compared to students in other fields of study (p = 0.04). Furthermore, year 4 and above students have significantly higher knowledge (89.2%) compared to those in years 1-3 (58%; AOR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.35).

Conclusion

The knowledge of female Health Sciences students on cervical cancer was moderate, and about half had a positive attitude. However, their practice of human papillomavirus screening and vaccination was very low. Level of education and field of study were significantly associated with the knowledge of cervical cancer. Addressing gaps through awareness programs, and enhancing accessible health services can help empower these future health professionals.

Understanding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccine acceptance in college-going students: Institutional-based cross-sectional study from Bihar State

Background

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Indian women, constituting a significant public health problem. Improving knowledge regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccines will help in increased vaccine acceptance and prevention of cervical cancer.

Material and Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 801 college-going students of Patna, Bihar, using a predesigned, semistructured, self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS version 20 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software.

Results

A total of 801 students participated in the study, and the mean (SD) age was 20.6 ± 2.2 years. The knowledge of students in the medical group was found to be higher than that in the nonmedical group. In the medical group, 93% of the students were aware of cervical cancer versus 71.3% students in the nonmedical group. Awareness regarding the etiological role of HPV in cervical cancer was 84.3% in the medical group compared to 16% in the nonmedical group. Most (82.5%) medical students knew of the existence of a vaccine against HPV in contrast to just 12.5% of the nonmedical group. Willingness to take the vaccine in the medical group was 84.3% versus 46.5% in the nonmedical group. Willingness to pay for the vaccine was reported by 55.6% and 7.5% in the medical and nonmedical groups, respectively.

Conclusion

The comparative results of the two groups identified specific areas where awareness campaigns should be intensified for both medical and nonmedical groups. This study further highlighted nonmedical students, which also represents the general population has very less knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine. The findings emphasize the importance of awareness campaigns and educational interventions to improve understanding and vaccine uptake among potential beneficiaries.

Awareness and acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccine in the Middle East: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of 159 studies

Cervical cancer, closely linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, is a major global health concern. Our study aims to fill the gap in understanding HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance in the Middle East, where national immunization programs are often lacking and cultural perceptions hinder acceptance. This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive literature search across several databases was conducted on 5 September 2023. We included quantitative studies on HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance in Middle Eastern countries. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by multiple reviewers to ensure accuracy. Statistical analyses, including subgroup analyses, were performed using R to calculate pooled estimates, assess heterogeneity, and publication bias. We reviewed 159 articles from 15 Middle Eastern countries, focusing on 93,730 participants, predominantly female and healthcare workers. HPV vaccine awareness was found to be 41.7% (95% CI 37.4%-46.1%), with higher awareness among healthcare workers. The pooled acceptance rate was 45.6% (95% CI 41.3%-50.1%), with similar rates between healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Our study highlights the critical need for increased HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance in the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of integrating the vaccine into national immunization programs and addressing cultural and religious factors to improve public health outcomes.

Assessment of health literacy and HPV knowledge among university students: An observational study

Health literacy (HL) level is related to promotion of health, improved health behaviors, and early diagnosis of diseases, as well as the appropriate use of health services. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is the primary method of protection against cervical cancer and recommended for women aged 9 to 27. This study aims to assess the university students' knowledge about HPV and the association between HL and HPV vaccination. In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, an electronic survey was used. Demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements of the participants were questioned. HPV Knowledge Scale (HPV-KS) and Turkish Health Literacy Scale (THLS-32) were used to evaluate HPV knowledge and HL. Statistical analyzes were performed with SPSS version 26. A total of 361 university students (74% women), aged 21.98 ± 4.72 years, were included in the study. About 52% of the participants were health sciences students. The total THLS-32 score was 34.68 ± 9.37 (95% CI = 33.71-35.65), and the total adequate/excellent HL level was 51%. The mean HPV-KS score of the participants was 10.28 ± 8.15 (95% CI = 9.44-11.12) of a possible 35. Health sciences students had higher rates of HPV awareness (78% vs 65%; P = .007). General HPV knowledge level was significantly better among women (P < .001), >20 years (P = .002), and those with a family history of cancer (P < .001) and significantly lower among students at prep or first year of school (P < .001). There was a weak, positive relation between THLS-32 and HPV-KS score (R = 0.136; P = .01). Participants with higher levels of HPV knowledge (P = .034) and total HPV-KS score (P = .025) were statistically significantly higher in students with adequate/excellent HL. Our results reveal that knowledge about HPV vaccination is closely related to HL levels. Educational interventions on HL may be considered to increase HPV vaccination rates.

Knowledge and attitude of students studying at health department towards HPV and HPV vaccination

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in the world. The most frequent disease linked to HPV is cervical cancer as well as other cancers including those of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharynx. Our research sought to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes concerning human papillomaviruses and their vaccine among students enrolled in Altınbaş University's faculties of health sciences.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was carried out using a survey containing 41 questions about demographic variables, knowledge, and attitudes toward HPV and HPV vaccines. The questions were distributed to students via Google form using social media applications such as WhatsApp.

RESULTS

The study involved 144 students, 71.5 % of whom were female. 37.5 % of the participants learned about HPV from social media. Knowledge of HPV is present in 82 % of females and 25 % of males. Most of the questions had more accurate replies from female than from male students p < 0.05. As a result, 88 %, 46 %of female respondents and 27 %, 14 %of male respondents, respectively, correctly answered the questions about who should receive HPV vaccinations p < 0.001 and how many doses are necessary.

CONCLUSION

Participants' awareness of HPV, HPV vaccination, and cervical cancer was rather high when compared to other research. However, there are knowledge gaps that need to be corrected and provided through educational programs.

Identification Level of Awareness and Knowledge of Emirati Men about HPV

One of the most frequent cancers that affects males globally is cervical cancer (CC) that kills hundreds or even thousands of women each year, particularly in underdeveloped nations. The study focuses on human papillomavirus (HPV) that contributes to cervical cancer (CC) development. In the majority of Arab nations, there seems to be no public education or vaccination programs. In research, methodological rigor is employed to find solutions to both theoretical and practical difficulties. This research aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of the HPV vaccination among Emirati men. Results of the research showed that Emirati males had a poor understanding of HPV and its vaccination. According to the findings of this research, Emirati males lack a basic understanding of HPV, which necessitates the implementation of national HPV education initiatives. We have identified several critical knowledge gaps that can be filled in the future regarding HPV infection and vaccination.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccination among Medical Students in Jakarta, Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer in Indonesian women. While the cervical cancer screening has been integrated in Indonesian primary health-care facilities, the HPV vaccination has not yet become a national program. AIM: The objective of this research was to measure the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of medical students in Jakarta toward cervical cancer and its prevention. The result of this study could be implemented to develop a more comprehensive national educational program and public health policy. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on medical students at 10 different universities in Jakarta, Indonesia. Student’s knowledge, attitude, and behavior were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire consist of a total of 27 questions concerning cervical cancer epidemiology, pathogenesis, screening, diagnosis, and prevention. RESULTS: A total of 2159 medical students participated in this study. More than half (55%) of the students obtained satisfactory knowledge score. The students’ knowledge regarding HPV vaccination was low. However, 87.2% of them agreed to get the HPV vaccination. Only 7.0% had participated in cervical cancer screening program and only 16.8% had received HPV vaccination. Female gender, second or third year of study, and three universities had better odds to have good practice score. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and attitude score did not reflect on student’s practice on cervical cancer and its prevention. Effort to increase the awareness toward cervical cancer should be endorsed through university curriculum and public health policy.

Health Care System View of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine Acceptability by Emirati Men

This is the most frequent sexually transmitted illness on the planet, and both men and women are equally vulnerable. HPV is associated with a broad variety of female disorders, including 99 percent of all cervical cancer cases. Specifically, the goal and contributions of this study are to determine Emirati men's opinions about the HPV vaccination, specifically whether they would use it themselves or allow their female relatives to use the vaccine. To collect the primary data, a statistical cross-sectional survey was conducted. This quantitative study was conducted using primary sources of data. A questionnaire survey with a sample size of 390 participants was used to collect data from 400 individuals. Male university students in the United Arab Emirati men have a weak grasp of HPV and are averse to vaccination (Ortashi et al., 2013). The percentage of Emirati men who accept the HPV vaccination is 37%. A total of 40.3% of the respondents opted not to participate in the survey at all. Eighty-six percent of the women surveyed had heard of cervical cancer, and one-third believed that they were at risk in the future. Twenty-five percent of those surveyed said that the HPV vaccination was safe, while 26% said it was unsafe. Respondents were just 3.1 percent vaccinated, and their family members were only 87% not vaccinated.

Attitude, Familiarity and Religious Beliefs about Vaccination among Health Science and Non-Health Science Students in a Malaysian Public University

Vaccine hesitancy has surfaced globally within the last few decades, and the fears and misconceptions of people about vaccine safety and effectiveness have been identified as key factors for their under-utilization. The familiarity, attitudes, and religious beliefs of the public and of future healthcare practitioners regarding vaccination are extensive areas needing exploration. The present exploratory cross-sectional study was designed, planned and carried out on students enrolled in health science and non-health science courses in one of the public universities of Malaysia. A research instrument that had been formulated, validated and subjected to reliability testing was used to collect the data, which were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A response rate of 80.8% (n = 202) was obtained: the majority were female (n = 161, 79.7%), and had been vaccinated before (n = 190, 97.5%), while a mere 2% did not support vaccination for reasons pertaining to safety issues. The vaccine familiarity score was 10.79 ± 1.4, which significantly differed among the study disciplines (p < 0.001). The mean of the total attitude score was 14.95 ± 1.5, with no significant difference among demographics being noted. The mean of the total religious beliefs score was 24.29 ± 2.8 and significantly differed based on gender (p = 0.040) and study disciplines (p < 0.001). The current findings showed that the participants were familiar with vaccines and had generally positive attitudes and positive religious beliefs toward vaccination; thus, one can expect that their inclusion in immunization campaigns will generate positive outcomes of the immunization program. Although the current research reported few knowledge gaps, these may be handled with the introduction of a specialized immunization course at an undergraduate level.

Knowledge and Practice of Pap Smear and Vaccination Regarding Human Papillomavirus Among Female Medical Students in Karachi, Pakistan

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of women’s death in developing countries. The change in the epidemiological trends has been attributed to mass screening with the help of a Pap smear. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the knowledge level and practice regarding a Pap smear and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among female medical students in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 147 participants were selected through multistage stratified random sampling. The knowledge level was categorized as adequate if the participants answered 60% of the items. Questionnaire validity was determined through Cronbach’s alpha value (α = 0.69). Binary logistic regression was applied to determine the factors associated with the knowledge level among the students. A confidence interval (CI) of 95% was considered with a margin of error of 5% and a P-value of 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: Most students (60.5%) had adequate knowledge regarding a Pap smear and HPV vaccination. Only 3.4% of the students underwent a Pap smear test. The most common factors contributing to the knowledge level were marriage (OR = 2.98; 95% CI: 1.23 - 11.09; P = 0.003), first academic year of students (OR = 10.78; 95% CI: 1.03 - 12.01; P = 0.046), family history of cancer (OR = 2.76; 95% CI: 1.34 - 7.90; P = 0.004), and family income less than < 100000 Pakistani Rupee (OR = 5.45; 95% CI: 2.09 - 9.06; P = 0.005). Conclusions: Being medical students studying in the first academic year, family history of cancer, and family income less than 100000 Pakistani Rupee had significant effect on knowledge gap about a Pap smear and HPV vaccination. There is a need for an increased level of knowledge in this regard by addressing the risk factors contributing to the knowledge level.

Are Medical Students from Across the World Aware of Cervical Cancer, HPV Infection and Vaccination? A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

This study aims to understand and compare the level of knowledge, the attitude and the awareness of cervical cancer, HPV infection and vaccination among medical students from across the globe. It was conducted by sharing a questionnaire on medical students' Facebook groups. We successfully analysed 736 responses, of which 74.3% were females and 25.7% males. Their mean age was 23.14. As regards to the respondents' knowledge of the risk factors for cervical cancer, 28.8% of the participants identified HPV, 23.5% chose "Having many sexual partners", 15.4% identified "Starting the sexual life at a young age", 14.7% chose HIV and 13.3% answered smoking. Regarding the knowledge of the Pap test, 92.4% of the students stated that they knew what it is, although 98.5% of these respondents chose the correct answer. Concerning the knowledge of early warning signs of cervical cancer, 34.4% recognised vaginal bleeding. According to our research, American, Eastern and Western European students had more knowledge regarding the risk factors, early signs of cervical cancer and Pap test than African and Asian students. A total of 50% of the sexually active females had gone at least once to be screened by the means of a Pap test. A total of 39.8% of the participants stated that they had received the HPV vaccine. The findings of our research highlight the need for additional education measures to improve knowledge and awareness regarding HPV infection, especially among medical students, since they will be future healthcare providers.

Correlates of human papillomavirus vaccine knowledge and acceptability among medical and allied health students in Northern Nigeria

Prior to its planned introduction, we investigated predictors of baseline knowledge and acceptability of HPV vaccination among medical and allied health care students in Kano, northern Nigeria. A total of 410 medical, dental and allied health students completed structured validated questionnaires. Knowledge scores and acceptability of HPV vaccine were determined and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for predictors of HPV knowledge and acceptability were derived from multivariate logistic regression models. Overall, 3.7% (n = 15), 30.7% (n = 126) and 65.6% (n = 269) of respondents had good, moderate, and poor knowledge of HPV, respectively. The majority 334 (81.5%) were willing to accept the HPV vaccine, but only 18 (4.4%) had received at least one dose of the vaccine. Knowledge of HPV was better among females, younger (<20 years) medical students, students at higher levels of study, sexually experienced students, and condom users. HPV vaccine acceptance was higher among female students in the faculty of allied health with a family history of cervical cancer and good or moderate knowledge of HPV. In conclusion, most students were willing to receive HPV vaccination, despite their sub-optimal level of knowledge and low vaccine uptake. We recommend piloting the HPV vaccine in health colleges and recruiting early adopters as peer educators and advocates.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine has been introduced in over 80 countries in the past decade, but evidence suggests low awareness of HPV infection and the vaccine, especially in developing countries. Nigeria proposes to introduce the HPV vaccine as part of the routine immunisation program in early 2021.What do the results of this study add? The majority of medical and allied health students in Kano, Nigeria, were willing to receive HPV vaccination, despite their sub-optimal level of knowledge and low vaccine uptake. Vaccine acceptance was predicted by the respondent's sex, course of study, family history of cervical cancer and knowledge of HPV.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The findings could inform program implementation and evaluation as HPV vaccine uptake is scaled up across Africa.

Knowledge, attitude and practices on cervical cancer screening among undergraduate female students in University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: an institution based cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is a major public health problem. In the world, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women and it is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in females. It is the second most common women cancer in Ethiopia with almost 6300 new cases and 4884 deaths annually. Despite the high burden of new cases and deaths, there is a scarcity of data on knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards cervical cancer screening among female university students in Ethiopia particularly in the study area. Therefore, the present study was aimed to assess the KAP of undergraduate female students towards cervical cancer screening.

METHODS

An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2018 at the University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Sciences undergraduate female students. Pretested, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Four hundred and three female students were recruited by a simple random sampling method and the data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical packages. Descriptive data analysis was used to report the results.

RESULTS

More than half of the respondents (59.3.3%) had good knowledge, whereas nearly 67.7% of the respondents had favorable attitude towards cervical cancer. However, less than 1% of the respondents had been screened for cervical cancer.

CONCLUSION

Although undergraduate female students had apparently good knowledge and favorable attitude, their practices on cervical cancer screening were quite low. Therefore, the health sectors and the gender streaming office of the university mobilize students to strengthen the uptake the cervical cancer screening practice.

Have you ever heard of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine? The awareness of HPV vaccine for college students in China based on meta-analysis

Objective: To evaluate the awareness of College Students (CSs) of HPV vaccine in China and provide evidence-based recommendations for HPV vaccine's publicity and promotion.Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, Science of Direct, EBSCO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data were searched. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted to determine pooled estimates of Awareness Rate (AR) for HPV vaccine.Results: Of the 36 studies included, the estimated AR of HPV vaccine was 40.27% (95% CI: 30.86%, 50.06%) among Chinese CSs. The AR of HPV vaccine was stratified by factors as gender, major, area, city, survey time, and sampling method of the study. The pooled AR of HPV vaccine among CSs was as follows: 44.17% (95% CI: 31.65%, 57.09%) and 31.93% (95% CI: 13.25%, 54.30%) for females and males; 44.47% (95% CI: 29.90%, 59.55%) and 12.02% (95% CI: 7.69%, 17.15%) for medical-related and nonmedical majors; 44.47% (95% CI: 28.71-60.82%) and 41.16% (95% CI: 26.48-56.64%) for Eastern and Midwestern region; 48.86% (95% CI: 30.63-67.25%) and 33.19% (95% CI: 22.27-45.12%) for first-tier and second- and third-tier city; 29.67 (95% CI: 11.44-52.16%) and 38.81 (95% CI: 27.14-51.21%) for AR before and after HPV vaccine entered in China; 51.51% (95% CI: 32.21%, 70.53%) and 26.21% (95% CI: 17.41%, 36.10%) for nonrandom and random sampling.Conclusion: This review indicates that awareness of HPV vaccine among CSs remains relatively low in China compared with European countries. Our findings may provide useful information to better understand the HPV vaccine awareness status among Chinese CSs.

Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Human Papillomavirus Vaccines among Child-Bearing Aged Women in Hanoi, Vietnam

Objectives:

The study sought to examine knowledge of cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines among child-bearing aged women in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Methods:

In 2016, 807 women aged 18 to 49 years were recruited from one urban area and one rural area in 2016 and were examined through face-to-face paper-based interviews. Pearson’s chi-square test and an independent t-test were utilized to compare awareness of cervical cancer and HPV vaccination among women according residential status.

Results:

Overall, 83.8% and 71.3% women had heard about cervical cancer and HPV vaccination, respectively. Mean knowledge scores for cervical cancer and HPV vaccination were 4.60±1.43 out of 7 and 1.53±1.35 out of 5, respectively. Women living in an urban area were more likely to be aware of cervical cancer and to be more knowledgeable of HPV vaccination than women in a rural area.

Conclusions:

Despite strong awareness, we found knowledge on cervical cancer and HPV vaccination to be alarmingly insufficient among Vietnamese women.

Pamukkale University Medical Faculty Students' Knowledge Level of Human Papilloma Virus Infection and Vaccine

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge level of Human Papilloma Virus infection and Human Papilloma Virus vaccine among medical students. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted among Pamukkale University Medical Faculty students between May and June 2019. The universe of our study consisted of 1129 students in the 1-5th grades. A questionnaire with 17 questions consisting of questions determining the level of knowledge about Human Papilloma Virus infection and vaccine developed by scanning the literature and socio-demographic data was applied to the students. Results: Of the 780 medical students who participated in the study, 91% knew Human Papilloma Virus and 85.6% knew about the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine. Knowing the Human Papilloma Virus vaccination of female students, getting vaccinated if possible, recommending them to their relatives and thinking that they should be included in the national vaccination schedule were significantly higher than male students. Also significant differences were found between the classes knowing the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine, having the vaccine if possible, recommending it to their relatives and thinking about taking part in the national vaccination schedule, especially with being in the 2nd grade and above. The rate of students vaccinated with Human Papilloma Virus was 2.1% and the most common reasons for not being vaccinated were not being at risk, not having enough information about the vaccine and its cost. Conclusion: We determined that knowledge of Human Papilloma Virus infection and Human Papilloma Virus vaccine, was high among medical students but the rate of vaccination was low. The reasons for not receiving vaccination included not feeling at risk, not having enough information and high cost. Keywords: HPV vaccines, medical students, knowledge

Knowledge about the human papillomavirus among high school and university students a comprehensive questionnaire study from Southeast Turkey

AIM

To investigate the level of knowledge among high school and university students about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and its vaccine.

METHODS

Our study included 3039 Grade 9-12 students from 12 high schools and university students enrolled in medical and non-medical departments. The students completed a 30-item questionnaire, which included three demographic items (sex, age and grade) and measured knowledge regarding HPV, HPV vaccine, smear test and cervical cancer. Students responded by selecting one of the choices "true/false/I don't know."

RESULTS

One thousand seven hundred and forty eight high school students (57.5%) and 1291 university students (42.5%) completed the questionnaire. One thousand three hundred and fourty one students were male (44.1%) and 1698 were female (55.9%). Mean age was 18.8 (min: 14 max: 33). The university group had significantly more correct responses (P = 0.001). The high school group had significantly more unknown responses (P = 0.001). In both groups, female and male students had comparable correct responses (High school; female: 25.28%, male: 24.45%, P = 0.42; University; female: 62.46%, male: 63.09%, P = 0.35). While medical students had more correct responses than both nursing students and students from non-medical university departments, nursing students had more correct responses than students from the non-medical university departments (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Knowledge about HPV is limited in adolescence, which marks the beginning of sexual activity. Educational programs targeted at adolescents are needed to negate the increasing rate of HPV-related gynecological cancers in our population. The HPV vaccine should urgently be introduced to the routine immunization schedule.

Students' HPV vaccination rates are associated with demographics, sexuality, and source of advice but not level of study in medical school

This study aimed to explore how medical students differ regarding the HPV vaccination status according to their demographics, sexuality, medical school year and sources of information regarding the vaccine. The cross-sectional survey included 379 participants from medical school year 1 to 6, in a medical school in Brasilia. Statistical analyses of the data obtained from a questionnaire analyzed contingency tables and highlighted odds ratios effect sizes. The results showed that among all the participants, 80 (21.1%) were vaccinated against HPV, 215 (58.7%) were not vaccinated but wanted to be and 84 (22.2%) were neither vaccinated nor wanted to be vaccinated. . Female gender (OR= 5.88, 95% CI 3.36-10.30), parental advice (OR= 6.95, 95% CI= 3.97-12.16), and absence of sexual initiation before 16 years of age (OR= 3.04, 95% CI= 1.05-8.77) were positively associated with HPV-vaccinated students. In parallel, female gender (OR= 4.74, 95% CI= 2.38-9.44), parental advice (OR= 3.50, 95% CI=1.20-10.22), and reporting two or more recent sexual partners (OR= 2.03, 95% CI= 1.06-3.88) were positively associated with the intention to be vaccinated among unvaccinated students. The high cost of the vaccine was perceived as a barrier among those respondents who wished to be vaccinated. Additionally, among the 84 (81.3% male) students who admitted unwillingness to be vaccinated, approximately two-thirds cited the feeling to be safe, lack of counseling, or low efficacy of the vaccine as the reasons for their reluctance. In conclusion, vaccination coverage was low among these medical students. Nevertheless, female gender, personal advice, and safe sex were the main factors associated with higher levels of vaccination and vaccine acceptance.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Barriers Towards Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Among Youths of Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common infection of the reproductive tract. The introduction of HPV vaccines by WHO aims to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Pakistan lacks an effective nationwide HPV vaccination program, thereby making HPV a major threat. In this study, we aimed to assess the knowledge of HPV vaccination in Pakistan and to determine the barriers against it. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, between April and May 2019. A convenience sampling technique was implemented using a self-administered questionnaire, which was filled by individuals aged 18-26. The questionnaire assessed the knowledge regarding HPV and also evaluated the attitude and acceptability amongst these individuals towards the vaccine. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20.0. Results The majority of the participants belonged to the monthly household income range of 200,000 rupees and above, which was labeled as the high-income category (n=158, 39.5%). Out of the 18 people who were vaccinated, eight belonged to the aforementioned category. Of these 18, nearly two-thirds (n=11, 61.1%) had gotten vaccinated upon the recommendation of their doctor. A statistically significant difference was found only between those currently enrolled in universities and previously vaccinated for HPV (p=.047). Nearly half of the responders perceived the vaccine to be time-consuming (n=167, 41.8%) and overpriced (n=187, 46.8%). Conclusion The vaccination rate is low in Karachi, Pakistan. Concentrated efforts involving the healthcare system should be made to raise awareness regarding HPV and its vaccine thereby reducing barriers to HPV prevention.

Knowledge and Behavior of University Students toward Human Papillomavirus and Vaccination

Objectives:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of university students toward HPV infection and vaccine prevention in Turkey.

Methods:

A total of 1563 female and male university students participated in the study. The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional. The study included students enrolled in the departments of faculties and vocational schools.

Results:

In total, 16.8% of students stated that they had heard of HPV. There was a statistically significant relationship between the mean awareness of HPV and different variables, such as age, gender, marital status, family history of cancer, and conversation about sexual matters (P < 0.01). As the age of the students increased, the chance of hearing about HPV also increased. Of all the students, 1.5% took HPV vaccination. Furthermore, 87.7% of the female students stated that they had heard of cervical cancer.

Conclusions:

The depth of knowledge among Turkish university students toward cervical cancer, HPV infection, and vaccination was inadequate. It is important to provide educational and counseling services by nurses to make university students aware of HPV infection and vaccination.

Knowledge, Perception, and Acceptance of HPV Vaccination and Screening for Cervical Cancer among Women in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia

Objective:

To determine knowledge, perception, and acceptance related to cervical cancer, HPV vaccination and screening for cervical cancer among Indonesian women, particularly in Yogyakarta province.

Methods:

A convenience sample of 392 women consists of 192 young women, 100 mothers of girls aged 12 – 15 years, and 100 adult women in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia was participated in this study. A self-administered paper-based questionnaire was used to determine demographics characteristics of respondents, as well as their knowledge – perception – acceptance related to cervical cancer, HPV vaccination, and screening for cervical cancer. Data collection were conducted during December 2013 to March 2014. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze description of demographics characteristics, knowledge, perception, and acceptance; while crosstab analysis using Chi-Square was used to analyze the relationship between demographics characteristics versus knowledge, perception, and acceptance.

Results:

This study found that knowledge and perception regarding cervical cancer, HPV vaccination, and screening for cervical cancer among women in Indonesia, particularly in Yogyakarta Province were still insufficient, however the acceptance was good. Among female young women, 64% had good knowledge, 62% had positive perception of cervical cancer and HPV vaccination, and 92% tended to accept HPV vaccination. Among mothers of girls aged 12 – 15 years, 44% had good knowledge, 46% had positive perception of cervical cancer and HPV vaccination, and 91% tended to accept HPV vaccination for their daughters. Among adult women, 68% had good knowledge, 57% had positive perception of cervical cancer and screening for cervical cancer, and 90% tended to accept cervical cancer screening. In general, demographics characteristics of having experience and exposure to information had significant relationship with knowledge, perception, and acceptance of HPV vaccination and screening for cervical cancer.

Conclusions:

Either knowledge or perception of cervical cancer and strategies toward it among Indonesian women particularly in Yogyakarta province were still unsatisfied. Efforts should be improved for supporting cervical cancer prevention and control in Indonesia through such as education on cervical cancer disease and strategies toward it.

A Cross Sectional Study on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice related to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Cervical Cancer Prevention between Medical and Non-Medical Students in Hong Kong

Background: One of the most important aetiologies of cervical cancer is Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. While vaccination is an effective way in preventing high risk HPV infection, HPV vaccine uptake rate in Hong Kong has been low. Considering the proven effectiveness of HPV vaccination and the low vaccination uptake rate in Hong Kong, this study was conducted to compare the knowledge, attitude and practice towards HPV vaccination for cervical cancer prevention between medical and non-medical students in the University of Hong Kong. Methods: A total of 420 full time undergraduates from the University of Hong Kong were recruited and evaluated. Questionnaires covering demographics, sexual risk profile, knowledge, attitude and practice towards HPV vaccination were applied, with the Chi-square test analysis. Results: Medical students had more comprehensive knowledge than their non-medical counterparts on HPV vaccination, including the carcinogenicity of HPV (P<0.001), available vaccines on the market (P<0.001) and the outcome of vaccination (P<0.001). In particular, senior medical students (Year 3 or above) were shown to be more knowledgeable than their juniors (below Year 3) with statistical significance (P<0.001). Positive attitudes toward HPV vaccination were observed more frequently among medical students when compared to non-medical students, especially regarding the usefulness of HPV vaccination in males (P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the vaccination rate between medical and non-medical students (P=0.671), suggesting an importance for factors other than knowledge, such as cost of vaccination and anxiety of side effects. Conclusions: Medical students in Hong Kong, especially those in senior years, had more comprehensive knowledge and positive attitudes towards HPV vaccination than non-medical students. Yet, there was no significant difference in the practice of HPV vaccination between medical and non-medical students. In addition to medical education, other factors such as health beliefs, risk perception and financial considerations, may have a role in determining HPV vaccination for cervical cancer prevention.