ABSTRACT
Objective: [1] Assess the knowledge towards the various aspects of the HPV, cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine. [2] Determine the percentage of participants who have received the vaccine. [3] Determine the attitude and behaviour -intent of participants regarding cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst female university students in Ajman, UAE. Participants aged >18 years completed a self-administered validated, pilot-tested questionnaire. The knowledge was assessed in four domains: general knowledge, knowledge on prevalence and etiology, prevention, and risk factors. A scoring system was used and participants were identified to have low scores, if they scored < 50% of the corresponding total score. The SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the data, X2 test and Fisher's test were used to test the significance of association. A p value of <0.05 was accepted as significant
Results: The study included 226 participants who were mostly >/=20 years of age [57%], Non-Arabs [67%], medical students [52%], first year university students [33%], single [96%], without health insurance [52%], and having stable financial status [58%]. The proportion of participants who scored low for general knowledge, prevalence and etiology, prevention and risk factors were 63%, 59%, 79% and 98% respectively. Low knowledge score was significantly associated with age, for the general knowledge [P=0.04] and the knowledge on prevalence and etiology [P=0.001]. Junior in comparison to senior student had significantly higher proportion of low scores for the general knowledge [P<0.001], knowledge on prevalence and etiology [P=0.001], and for Prevention [P=0.02]. The non-medical students had significantly higher proportion of low scores for the general knowledge [P=0.04] and prevalence and etiology [P<0.01] compared to medical students. Receipt of HPV vaccine was only reported by 16 participants [7.3%] and the majority of the respondents [72%] reported their willingness to take the vaccine. Positive attitude was found in 67% of respondents
Conclusion The prevalence of low knowledge is high. The main gap in knowledge was for the risk factors for cervical cancer. Majority of students have positive attitude towards the vaccine and its usage