Albanian Male Students Perception and Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Abstract

The women and men are vulnerable to HPV infections as one of the diseases with the highest incidence of cancer in the world, it’s important to know the level of knowledge they have about HPV infection and vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge around the Human papillomavirus (HPV) and what can be caused by this, in a group of students which consist only in Albanian men its relationship with genital warts and different type of cancers and HPV vaccine. We conducted a questionnaire survey of 160 male students in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Albania. The questionnaire showed that only one third of the students had heard about HPV infection and 45.28% of them had heard about protective vaccination. Between the two groups divided into two age groups: 18-21 years and 22-25 years, significant differences were observed only in the knowledge scores (p = 0.00), while in the sensitivity scores (p = 0.753) and seriousness (p = 0.13) no differences were observed between the two groups. In conclusion, we must say that we need to increase the contribution in education for the recognition and treatment of the concept of HPV and related diseases in the university system, in order to prepare conscious generations for the great importance of HPV infection prevention and vaccination.