Knowledge, practice and attitude towards HPV vaccination among college students in Beijing, China

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge, practice and attitude towards HPV vaccination among college students in Beijing, China. Furthermore, the factors influencing vaccination were analyzed. The data were collected via self-administered anonymous questionnaires completed by 884 college students who were recruited from a random sample at Peking University in China between September and December 2018. In total, 72.6% of the participants had previously heard of but had insufficient knowledge about HPV and the vaccine. The level of knowledge was significantly associated with the participants’ age, major, and family members’ or friends’ vaccination status. In total, 68.8% of the students viewed college education as the primary source from which they hoped to receive information about the vaccine. Only 9.5% of the females had received the vaccine. Relationships with doctors, sexual experience and a high level of knowledge were positive predictors of vaccine uptake. Limited knowledge about the HPV vaccine was the primary and most common reason for refusing vaccination and not recommending the vaccine to others. Knowledge of the HPV vaccine among college students at Peking University was low to moderate, and the vaccine uptake was low. Policies and measures, such as college health education, are needed to increase college students knowledge of HPV and the vaccine, which may help improve the vaccination rate.