HPV and HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance among adolescent girls

DR ASIMA DAS; DR LIPIPUSPA PATTNAIK; DR SARIKA AVASTHI

Volume : VI, Issue : XII, December - 2017

HPV and HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance among adolescent girls

Dr Asima Das, Dr Lipipuspa Pattnaik, Dr Sarika Avasthi

Abstract :

PURPOSE

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in India.HPV is now a well established cause of cancer cervix and type 16 and 18 are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases of world wide. The introduction of HPV vaccine will effectively reduce the burden of cervical cancer in coming decade.So to determine knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV vaccination among adolescent girls and to devlop a HPV vaccination program here we need to understand HPV and cervical cancer awareness and willingness to get vaccination.

METHODS

It is a cross sectional study.

Face to face interview with open ended questions.

The population of interest were adolescent girls of age group 14 to 17

Participants recruited sporadically in capital city of Odisha.

We interviewed a convenience sample of 200 adolescent girls

Few participants( 25%) had heard of HPV,cervical cancer and HPV vaccine.None of the adolescents were aware about the cancer causing HPV types and name of the HPV vaccine.However after researchers explained the purpose of the vaccine nearly all said they would be willing HPV vaccinating if it available and their parents are convinced and strongly recommended by physician.

CONCLUSION

Despite low awareness on HPV, interest in vaccination was nearly universal in our study.Adolescents vaccine acceptance is high. As parents are the decision making factors for vaccinating their children so Physician to parents vaccine education is important. Focus should not only be on providing information but also on existing beliefs and attitudes towards cervical cancer and vaccination in general.