Knowledge regarding cervical cancer and HPV vaccine among medical students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare workers, especially the young medical students, can play a significant role in providing the recommendations to prevent or manage cervical cancer (CC) caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). However, it is often observed that the awareness about the knowledge of CC and HPV is limited in the medical students, who are part of the front-line support for managing the patients. ObjectiveTo evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of CC and HPV vaccine among medical students. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, 297 medical students of the age group >18 years were included. Their knowledge regarding cervical cancer (risk factors, screening and prevention) was explored through a questionnaire. The acceptability of HPV vaccine among girls was also assessed. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test and regression method were used to analyze the study data with p < 0.05 considered as statistically significant. ResultsKnowledge regarding cervical cancer and HPV vaccine was 2.38 times more in MBBS III-year subjects than compared to MBBS II year (p > 0.0001). Proportion of subjects willing for vaccination in future was high among females (p > 0.0001). Age (p = 0.047) and education (p > 0.0001) were the only variables significant after application of logistic regression model. ConclusionThe study suggests that the overall awareness and knowledge about CC, HPV and HPV vaccination was high among college students and associated with sex, education and also family background. This study inferred that a vast majority of subjects were fairly aware of CC, but the knowledge of risk factors and prevention techniques was lacking.