Awareness and Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer Among Female Medical and Health Science Students at University of Gondar

Abstract 6 Background: Cervical cancer is causing a burden in sub-Saharan Africa, with human papillomavirus (HPV) identified as the necessary cause of cervical cancer. HPV mainly affects young women, which puts female university students at risk of cervical cancer. Knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and HPV in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, is poor. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and HPV in University of Gondar medicine and health science female students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to May 30, 2016, at University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Gondar, Ethiopia. Undergraduate female students from 11 different health-related departments at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences were included in the study. A 14-item, paper-based, self-administered questionnaire was provided to each of the participants to measure her level of knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and HPV. Results: A total of 267 female students participated in the study, with ages ranging from 18 to 24 years (mean age, 20.58 ± 1.22 years). More than one half of participants (59.6%) stated that they did not know the main cause of cervical cancer, whereas only approximately one fifth (19.5%) identified HPV as the main cause of cervical cancer. As many as 83.9% of participants did not know other causes of cervical cancer. Binary logistic analysis revealed that students from midwifery (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 14.14; P < .05), anesthesiology (AOR, 9.66; P < .05), and medicine (AOR, 5.84; P < .05) departments were associated with knowledge of the main cause of cervical cancer. Furthermore, fifth-year students (AOR, 16.94; P < .05) and fourth-year students (AOR, 8.32; P < .05) were found to have better knowledge of the main cause of cervical cancer. Only a few students (15%) had been vaccinated for HPV or had had a cervical smear test performed in the past. Conclusion: Cervical cancer mainly affects young women, which puts female university students at risk of cervical cancer. Hence, assessing the knowledge and awareness of these students will be of paramount importance to designing effective measures to increase their knowledge and awareness of the disease. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No COIs from the authors.

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Stakeholders’ Understandings of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Rapid Qualitative Systematic Review

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9050496 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 496

Author(s):

Caroline Deignan ◽

Alison Swartz ◽

Sara Cooper ◽

Christopher J. Colvin

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cervical Cancer ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Hpv Vaccine ◽

Hpv Vaccination ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

African Countries ◽

Qualitative Systematic Review ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

And Gender

Cervical cancer rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are amongst the highest worldwide. All three of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines (9-valent, quadrivalent and bivalent HPV vaccine) provide primary protection against the most common cancer-causing strains of HPV (types 16 and 18) that are known to cause 70% of cervical cancers. Over the last five years, there has been an increase in Sub-Saharan African countries that have introduced the HPV vaccine. The majority of research has been conducted on supply-side barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccination uptake in SSA, yet little research has been conducted on demand-side or end-user perspectives of, and decisions around, HPV vaccination. In order to complement existing research, and inform current and future HPV vaccination implementation approaches, this qualitative systematic review explored Stakeholders’ understandings of HPV vaccination in SSA. This review searched the following databases: Embase (via Scopus), Scopus, MEDLINE (via PubMed), PubMed, EBSCOhost, Academic Search Premier, Africa-Wide Information, CINAHL, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL) and found a total of 259 articles. Thirty-one studies were found eligible for inclusion and were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s methods for conducting a thematic analysis. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. Three major themes emerged from this analysis; knowledge of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer is intertwined with misinformation; fear has shaped contradictory perceptions about HPV vaccination and gender dynamics are relevant in how stakeholders understand HPV vaccination in SSA.

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Knowledge of human papillomavirus and Pap test among Brazilian university students

Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira ◽

10.1590/1806-9282.65.5.625 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (5) ◽

pp. 625-632 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aimée Denzeler Baptista ◽

Carolina Xavier Simão ◽

Vitoria Carvalho Guimarães dos Santos ◽

Juliana Gil Melgaço ◽

Silvia Maria Baeta Cavalcanti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

University Students ◽

Pap Test ◽

Hpv Infection ◽

Health Science ◽

Cancer Information ◽

Papanicolaou Test ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Increased Risk

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted virus in the world and is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. The most effective approach to cervical cancer control continues to be screening through the preventive Papanicolaou test (Pap test). This study analyzes the knowledge of university students of health science programs as well as undergraduate courses in other areas of knowledge on important questions regarding HPV. METHOD: Four hundred and seventy-three university students completed a questionnaire assessing their overall knowledge regarding HPV infection, cervical cancer, and the Pap test. A descriptive analysis is presented, and multivariate analysis using logistic regression identified factors associated with HPV/cervical cancer information. RESULTS: Knowledge was higher for simple HPV-related and Pap test questions but was lower for HPV interrelations with genital warts and cervical cancer. Being from the health science fields and having high income were factors associated with greater knowledge. Only the minority of the participants recognized all the situations that increased the risk of virus infection presented in the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for educational campaigns regarding HPV infection, its potential as a cervical cancer agent and the forms of prevention available.

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Progress on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer prevention in sub-Saharan Africa: Highlights of the 27th International Papillomavirus Conference in Berlin, 17–22 September 2011

Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health ◽

10.1016/j.jegh.2012.04.001 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 99 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ziad El-Khatib ◽

Joseph E. Tota ◽

Andreas M. Kaufmann

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Cancer Prevention ◽

Hpv Infection ◽

Cervical Cancer Prevention ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Human papillomavirus prevalence and type distribution in invasive cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa

International Journal of Cancer ◽

10.1002/ijc.28425 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 134 (6) ◽

pp. 1389-1398 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

Lynette Denny ◽

Isaac Adewole ◽

Rose Anorlu ◽

Greta Dreyer ◽

Manivasan Moodley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Invasive Cervical Cancer ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Type Distribution ◽

Sub Saharan

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Cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: an emerging and preventable disease associated with oncogenic human papillomavirus

Médecine et Santé Tropicales ◽

10.1684/mst.2017.0648 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 16-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R.S. Mboumba Bouassa ◽

T. Prazuck ◽

T. Lethu ◽

J.F. Meye ◽

L. Bélec

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Preventable Disease ◽

Sub Saharan

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Epidemiology and prevention of human papillomavirus and cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a comprehensive review

Tropical Medicine & International Health ◽

10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02372.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. 1287-1302 ◽

Cited By ~ 132

Author(s):

Karly S. Louie ◽

Silvia De Sanjose ◽

Philippe Mayaud

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Comprehensive Review ◽

Sub Saharan

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Infrastructure Requirements for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Cervical Cancer Screening in Sub-Saharan Africa

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.06.066 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. F47-F52 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan ◽

Rose Anorlu ◽

Ghislain Sangwa-Lugoma ◽

Lynette A. Denny

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Cancer Screening ◽

Cervical Cancer Screening ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination ◽

Sub Saharan

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Cervix Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Assessment of Cervical Cancer Management

JCO Global Oncology ◽

10.1200/go.20.00079 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 173-182

Author(s):

Lindsay M. Burt ◽

Mary McCormak ◽

Fabrice Lecuru ◽

Daniel M. Kanyike ◽

Memory Bvochora-Nsingo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Cancer Research ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Screening Program ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination ◽

Adequate Treatment ◽

Cancer Management ◽

Sub Saharan

PURPOSE Underdeveloped nations carry the burden of most cervical cancer, yet access to adequate treatment can be challenging. This report assesses the current management of cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa to better understand the needs of underdeveloped nations in managing cervical cancer. METHODS A pre- and postsurvey was sent to all centers participating in the Cervical Cancer Research Network's 4th annual symposium. The pre- and postsurvey evaluated human papillomavirus and HIV screening, resources available for workup and/or treatment, treatment logistics, outcomes, and enrollment on clinical trials. Descriptive analyses were performed on survey responses. RESULTS Twenty-nine centers from 12 sub-Saharan countries saw approximately 300 new cases of cervical cancer yearly. Of the countries surveyed, 55% of countries had a human papillomavirus vaccination program and 30% (range, 0%-65%) of women in each region were estimated to have participated in a cervical cancer screening program. In the workup of patients, 43% of centers had the ability to obtain a positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan and 79% had magnetic resonance imaging capabilities. When performing surgery, 88% of those centers had a surgeon with an expertise in performing oncological surgeries. Radiation therapy was available at 96% of the centers surveyed, and chemotherapy was available in 86% of centers. Clinical trials were open at 4% of centers. CONCLUSION There have been significant advancements being made in screening, workup, and management of patients with cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa; yet, improvement is still needed. Enrollment in clinical trials remains a struggle. Participants would like to enroll patients on clinical trials with Cervical Cancer Research Network's continuous support.

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