Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Teachers Regarding HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and Vaccination

Primary prevention of HPV-related diseases from the patients' perspective in Poland

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and attitudes toward HPV vaccination (HPVv) among female patients in Poland, investigating the impact of sociodemographic factors on these aspects. The study also explored awareness of state-funded bivalent vaccination and gauged willingness to vaccinate children, especially in the aspect of the newly introduced nonavalent vaccine.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An 11-question questionnaire was administered to newly referred patients at a dysplasia consultation center in Kraków University Hospital between February and December 2022. Statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 25 evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, HPV knowledge, attitudes toward HPVv and correlations among responses.

RESULTS

By December 2022, 187 completed forms were received, primarily from women aged 30-40 years, residing in large cities, and with higher education qualifications. While most were aware of HPV's association with cancer and abnormal cytology, over 40% were unaware of its asymptomatic nature. Higher education is correlated with better HPV awareness. Participants generally showed positive attitudes toward HPVv for themselves and their children, yet only a small fraction had received the vaccine. Education significantly influenced HPV knowledge, with higher education levels linked to better awareness and willingness to vaccinate children. Awareness of HPV is positively correlated with knowledge test performance and vaccination attitudes.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed a lack of awareness regarding government co-financing for the bivalent vaccine. Campaigns endorsing reimbursed vaccination were found to be inadequate, highlighting the need for corrective measures to enhance awareness and improve vaccination rates, particularly for individuals outside the age range between 12 and 13 years relying on self-financing or sporadic government initiatives.

Awareness of human papillomavirus infection among Indigenous males in North America and Oceania: a Scoping Review

PURPOSE

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly transmitted sexually transmitted infection. HPV infections have been on the rise among males, especially in the form of oropharyngeal cancer. Despite this, there is a gap in healthcare guidelines to increase HPV vaccine administration among males. In this study, we focus on the Indigenous population of North America and Oceania to determine existing barriers resulting in low HPV vaccination rates among the population.

METHOD

We surveyed peer-reviewed literature on the awareness of HPV infection among Indigenous males in North America and Oceania. Using keywords HPV plus male, men or boy, and ethnical filters such as Indigenous, Aboriginal or First Nations, we retrieved 54 articles based on titles, of which 15 were included after reading the abstracts.

RESULTS

Reported HPV awareness was generally low in Indigenous males in North America, with no peer-reviewed data from Oceania. The lower understanding by males compared to females was largely attributable to misconceptions about HPV-related diseases, their transmission, and prevention. Lack of awareness and concern toward the risk of contracting HPV infection in Indigenous males suggests an impediment in disseminating health information about this cancer-causing virus.

CONCLUSION

Culturally sensitive education, with emphasis on Indigenous males, is needed to improve this group's HPV knowledge. Researchers should also engage meaningfully with Indigenous communities by building rapport to achieve a positive change in attitude.

Knowledge levels and community guidance of doctors working in family health centers on HPV screening and HPV vaccination

AIM

Our aim is to evaluate the level of knowledge, compliance with the screening program, and tendency to inform patients of the doctors working in FHCs where HPV testing is performed within the scope of the cervical cancer screening program in our country.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed between June and September 2022 with 113 family physicians working in different FHCs in different provinces in Turkey. Questionnaires prepared by the researchers were delivered to family physicians via online platforms.

RESULTS

When the different age groups were evaluated, in two of the 24 knowledge-level questions (How many types of HPV are there? Can HPV infect men?) the rate of correct answers for participants under the age of 35 years was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.007; p = 0.032). With regard to professional experience, the group with fewer than 10 years of experience gave a statistically significant correct answer to two questions (How many types of HPV are there? Can HPV infect men?; p = 0.008; p = 0.037). It was observed that 107 (94.7%) of the 113 family physicians who participated in the survey recommended that their patients use condoms during intercourse, 110 (97.3%) recommended cervical cancer screening tests to patients who applied for another reason, 105 (92.9%) recommended the HPV vaccine to patients and their relatives and 60 (53.1%) recommended the HPV vaccine to patients who applied for another reason.

CONCLUSIONS

The success of HPV vaccination programs is directly related to the beliefs of health personnel and their recommendations to the general population.

Knowledge, perceptions and uptake of human papilloma virus vaccine among adolescent girls in Kampala, Uganda; a mixed-methods school-based study

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is a major public health challenge, accounting for substantial morbidity and mortality. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination is the recommended primary public health intervention for HPV infection prevention. However, there's limited evidence on the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of adolescent girls regarding HPV vaccination in Kampala city, Uganda. This study assessed the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of adolescent girls aged 10-14 years towards HPV vaccination program in Kampala, Uganda to generate evidence to guide programs targeted at improving uptake of the vaccine.

METHODS

A convergent parallel mixed methods study was conducted in Kampala, Uganda. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from 524 adolescent girls. In addition, 6 Focus group discussions, and 24 key informant interviews (teacher and parents) were conducted. Multistage and purposive sampling techniques were used to select quantitative and qualitative participants respectively. Quantitative data were entered using epidata, cleaned and analyzed using Stata v14 while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis in atlas ti version 8.

RESULTS

Overall, only 8.6% (45/524) of the girls had completed the HPV vaccine schedule of two dozes, 49.2% (258/524) of the girls had low knowledge about the HPV vaccine and teachers and parents affirmed this lack of knowledge among adolescent girls especially concerning the target age group, dosage, and vaccine interval. About 51.9% (272/524) of girls had negative perceptions towards HPV vaccination. Parents expressed negative perceptions, beliefs, superstitions, and safety concerns of the vaccine.Girls residing in rural areas (adjusted prevalence ratio, aPR = 0.35, C. I = 0.14-0.85) had lower knowledge levels compared to those in urban areas. Girls whose mothers were healthcare providers (aPR = 1.94, C. I = 1.10-3.41), girls with high knowledge levels (aPR = 1.79, C. I = 1.21-2.63) and positive perceptions (aPR = 2.87, C. I = 1.93-4.27) had a higher prevalence of being fully vaccinated.

CONCLUSION

Girls generally had low levels of knowledge, negative perceptions, and poor uptake of HPV vaccination. We recommend sensitization campaigns in schools and communities to improve awareness, perceptions, and practices of stakeholders towards HPV vaccination.

Schoolteachers and Vaccinations: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Campania Region

Background: This cross-sectional survey aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding vaccinations among schoolteachers in Italy. Methods: Data were collected through an online questionnaire from September 2020 to May 2021 from a sample of schoolteachers in the Campania region of southern Italy. Results: Only 27% of the participants had good knowledge about the vaccinations recommended for schoolteachers. Females who had children, who were unsatisfied by their health status, and not needing additional information about vaccinations were more likely to have good knowledge. Moreover, 61.5% perceived that vaccinations are useful in preventing infectious diseases, and 44.5% agreed or strongly agreed that vaccinations should be mandatory for schoolteachers. The results of multivariate logistic regression showed that schoolteachers who perceived that vaccinations are useful in preventing infectious diseases, who considered the recommended vaccinations to be useful to protecting their own and their students’ health, who believed that information received about vaccination was useful, and who needed additional information about vaccinations recommended for schoolteachers, were significantly more likely to agree or strongly agree that vaccinations should be mandatory for schoolteachers. Conclusions: These findings suggest the need for education strategies to ensure that schoolteachers are better informed about vaccinations recommended for their profession.