Health Literacy on Human Papillomavirus, its Vaccination and Risk Factor of Cervical Cancer among Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Human Papilloma Virus is a group of >150 related viruses and precursor to nearly all cervical cancers and genital warts. Cervical cancer ranks 1st most frequent cancer in Nepal among 15-44 years of age women. World Health organization recommends vaccination for 9–13-year-old girls as most cost-effective public health measure to diminish the risk of HPV transmission against cervical cancer. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and attitude on HPV, its vaccination and risk factor of cervical cancer among adolescent girls. A descriptive cross-sectional research was conducted among 400 adolescent girls at selected schools of Dharan through Systematic Random Sampling. Data were collected using Self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at the level of significance 0.05 in SPSS version16. Majority (83.0%) of the respondents were of Middle Adolescence (14-16yrs) with mean age 15.48 years and standard deviation of ±1.031. More than half (52.8%) of respondents had adequate knowledge whereas more than half (55.5%) of respondents had negative attitude. There was no association between knowledge and attitude with socio-demographic variables. The correlation between levels of knowledge and attitude was positively significant with P value 0.01(r=0.243).The study revealed that more than half of adolescent girls had adequate knowledge where as less than half of respondents had positive attitude and there was no association between knowledge, attitude and socio-demographic variables but correlation between knowledge and attitude was found to be positive.