Awareness of Turkish Nursing Students About Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer and Prophylactic Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

Awareness and acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccine in the Middle East: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of 159 studies

Cervical cancer, closely linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, is a major global health concern. Our study aims to fill the gap in understanding HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance in the Middle East, where national immunization programs are often lacking and cultural perceptions hinder acceptance. This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive literature search across several databases was conducted on 5 September 2023. We included quantitative studies on HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance in Middle Eastern countries. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by multiple reviewers to ensure accuracy. Statistical analyses, including subgroup analyses, were performed using R to calculate pooled estimates, assess heterogeneity, and publication bias. We reviewed 159 articles from 15 Middle Eastern countries, focusing on 93,730 participants, predominantly female and healthcare workers. HPV vaccine awareness was found to be 41.7% (95% CI 37.4%-46.1%), with higher awareness among healthcare workers. The pooled acceptance rate was 45.6% (95% CI 41.3%-50.1%), with similar rates between healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Our study highlights the critical need for increased HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance in the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of integrating the vaccine into national immunization programs and addressing cultural and religious factors to improve public health outcomes.

Update knowledge on cervical cancer incidence and prevalence in Asia

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, with over 500,000 new cases diagnosed annually and 50% mortality rate in Asia. In the United States, approximately 10,370 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually, and estimated 3,710 deaths occur from the disease, making it the sixth most common cause of malignancy among American women. This study aims to provide awareness about cervical cancer as well as an updated knowledge about the prevalence and incidence of cervical cancer in Asia.

University students' knowledge and attitudes regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus, and human papillomavirus vaccines in Turkey

OBJECTIVES

The current descriptive study aimed to determine university students' knowledge and attitudes regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccines in Turkey.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 800 students participated.

METHODS

This study was carried out between September 1, 2012, and October 30, 2012, in 8 female dormitories.

RESULTS

In response to the question "What are cervical cancer risk factors?" 10.0% of students said HPV; 90.9% were unaware of how to protect themselves from HPV. Of the students, 99.7% had not had an HPV vaccination, only 32.6% wanted to get an HPV vaccination, and 20.7% did not want to be vaccinated, as they believe it "might have adverse effects."

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study show that female university students have low levels of awareness and knowledge toward cervical cancer risk factors, HPV, and HPV vaccination.