Knowledge and practices towards cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination among MBBS graduates

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and second most common cancer in Indian women. Three vaccines against HPV have been approved by WHO. As preventing cancer with the help of a vaccine is a new concept, awareness and education will have important implications in its implementation. This study was done with objective to assess the knowledge and practices of cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination among MBBS graduates.Methods: It was descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in Intern hostel, Pt B D Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak on 211 MBBS graduates, who were completing their internship in December 2018. A pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire was used as study tool.Results: 73.27%, 76.24% and 97.03% answered correctly that smoking, early marriage and multiple sexual partners are risk factors of cervical cancer, respectively whereas 96.04% study participants were aware that cervical cancer is a preventable disease and 93.07% participants were aware that a vaccine is available for it in India. 60.40% felt that insufficient information was biggest obstacle in HPV vaccination. 44.55% study participants had recommended HPV vaccination to patients whereas only 8.9% had been vaccinated themselves. Female study participants were found to be practicing HPV vaccination significantly more than their male counterparts.Conclusions: A good percentage of MBBS graduates had knowledge about various aspects of HPV, however knowledge may not translate into practice. So, Continued education and reinforcement of knowledge is the need of the hour.