Abstract
To evaluate the knowledge related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the rate of HPV vaccination among undergraduate freshmen and senior students of medicine, pharmacy, speech therapy, nursing and physical education in a Brazilian university. A questionnaire concerning sociodemographic aspects, sexual background, and knowledge about HPV and its vaccine was filled out by 492 students. Three months later, a second questionnaire, concerning the new rate of vaccination, was applied to 233 students. Among the 290 women who answered the first questionnaire, 47% of the freshmen and 13% of the seniors stated they were not sexually active, as well as 11% of the 202 freshman and senior male students. Although the knowledge about HPV was higher among women, they reported a lower use of condoms. More than 83% of the women and 66% of the men knew that HPV can cause cervical cancer, but less than 30% of the students knew that HPV can cause vulvar, anal, penile and oropharyngeal cancer. Less than half of the students knew that HPV causes genital, anal and oropharyngeal warts. Comparing the students, the seniors had more knowledge of the fact that HPV is sexually transmitted, and that HPV infection can be asymptomatic. The rate of vaccination was of 26% for women, and of 8% for men, and it increased to 52% and 27% respectively among the 233 students evaluated in the second questionnaire. As almost half of freshman women declared being sexually inactive, the investment in public health information programs and easier access to the HPV vaccine seem to be a useful strategy for undergraduate students.
Highlights
Current academic knowledge pertaining to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its relationship with human pathology is vast and well established
As almost half of freshman women declared being sexually inactive, the investment in public health information programs and easier access to the HPV vaccine seem to be a useful strategy for undergraduate students
The proportion of female students was significantly higher in the nursing (97.7%) and speech therapy (94.9%) courses compared with pharmacy (79.7%), medicine (57.4%) and physical education (31.3%) (p < 0.001)
Summary
Current academic knowledge pertaining to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its relationship with human pathology is vast and well established. Decades of cumulative investigation led to a firm amalgam of information concerning the biological basis for the different effects of HPV infection on the cervix, vulva, penis, anus and oropharynx.[1] In essence, HPV is the major causal factor for genital warts and multiple cancers such as cervical, vulvar, vaginal, oropharyngeal, penile and anal cancer.[2] Cervical cancer is the third most prevalent neoplasm and the fourth leading cause of death by cancer among women.[3] The prevention of HPV infection can be accomplished through prophylactic vaccines, which, administered prior to the contact with the virus, provide almost 100% of efficacy. The first vaccine against HPV has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006; the global vaccination rate for girls aged 10 to 20 years by 2015 was of 6.1%.4
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