Women’s knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors toward the prevention of human papillomavirus transmission

Human Papillomavirus, Related Diseases, and Vaccination: Knowledge and Awareness Among Health Care Students and Professionals in Nepal

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted disease worldwide. While burden of HPV-associated cancers and mortality is higher in low-income countries, there is limited data about knowledge of it among health care students and professionals. We assessed awareness and knowledge of HPV, its related diseases, and HPV vaccine among 333 participants, composed of 146 medical students (MSs) and professionals (MPs) and 187 nursing students (NSs) and professionals (NPs) using a 40-question survey between July 2018 and February 2019. Surveys were conducted in English language using both paper and an online version. Most participants reported that they had heard of HPV and cervical cancer. However, 91.76% of MPs and 77.97% of MSs, but only 41.11% of NPs and 36.17% NSs reported knowing that HPV types 16 and 18 caused cervical cancer. Likewise, about two-thirds of MPs and MSs reported having the knowledge that HPV 6 and 11 caused genital warts versus only a little over one-fourth of NPs and NSs. Only 55.91% of NPs and 51.61% of NSs were aware that HPV could cause cancer in both men and women, whereas 42.35% of MPs, 64.41% of MSs, 41.76% of NPs, and 40.66% of NSs were aware that the vaccine could be given to both boys and girls. While medical professionals were relatively more knowledgeable about HPV and related diseases, overall, knowledge about the HPV vaccine was low among all groups. This knowledge gap is concerning and warrants further attention to fight HPV-related public health burden in Nepal.

Parental Acceptance of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination in Districts with High Prevalence of Cervical Cancer in West Java, Indonesia

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is the second-highest cause of death in women with cancer, which is mostly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, specifically HPV 16 and 18. Next to Pap smear and visual inspection with acetic acid, HPV vaccination is highly recommended to support preventive measures.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine parental acceptance of HPV vaccination in districts with high prevalence of cervical cancer and different levels of household income in West Java, Indonesia by taking several factors into account.

METHODS

A questionnaire was delivered to 286 parents who met the major inclusion criteria of having daughters at 5th or 6th grade of elementary schools in three selected districts: Bandung, Purwakarta and Karawang. In particular, logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate the correlation of acceptance towards HPV vaccination with sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

Respondents in Bandung, Purwakarta and Karawang were willing to pay for HPV vaccine at a price range of US$ 1.38-20.69, US$ 0.07-34.48, and US$ 1.38-6.90, respectively. In addition, respondents' spouse was the key person influencing their decision to vaccinate their children.

CONCLUSION

Education level and health beliefs toward cervical cancer have significant correlation (p-value <0.05) with acceptance towards HPV vaccination.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccines: An Updated Review

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, which were introduced in many countries in the past decade, have shown promising results in decreasing HPV infection and related diseases, such as warts and precancerous lesions. In this review, we present the updated information about current HPV vaccines, focusing on vaccine coverage and efficacy. In addition, pan-gender vaccination and current clinical trials are also discussed. Currently, more efforts should be put into increasing the vaccine’s coverage, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Provision of education on HPV and vaccination is one of the most important methods to achieve this. Vaccines that target HPV types not included in current vaccines are the next stage in vaccine development. In the future, all HPV-related cancers, such as head and neck cancer, and anal cancer, should be tracked and evaluated, especially in countries that have introduced pan-gender vaccination programs. Therapeutic vaccines, in combination with other cancer treatments, should continue to be investigated.