scholarly journals Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Propensity towards HPV Vaccine of Young Adult Students in Italy

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Trucchi ◽  
Daniela Amicizia ◽  
Silvio Tafuri ◽  
Laura Sticchi ◽  
Paolo Durando ◽  
...  

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), representing the main cause of genital warts and cervical cancer. This cross-sectional study evaluated knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection, related diseases, and prevention and propensity towards HPV vaccine among undergraduate students. Methods: An online and written survey about HPV and its prevention, targeted to young adults of both genders, was addressed to students attending health sciences and other schools at Universities of Genoa and Bari. Results: The overall median knowledge and attitude scores were 56.3% (25–75 p = 40–68.8%) and four out of five (25–75 p = 4–5), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, attending a health sciences university, using social networks ≤2 h a day, a history of STI, having heard about HPV and HPV vaccine previously resulted as predictors of higher knowledge scores. Having heard about HPV previously also predicted a high attitude score, together with a perceived economic status as good. Having Italian and healthcare worker parents, being employed, and following a specific diet, instead, predicted lower attitude score. Conclusions: Poor knowledge and good attitudes were found among undergraduates about HPV. In order to increase HPV vaccine compliance and the counselling skills of future healthcare workers, the improvement of training on HPV is needed.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Cortinhas Monteiro ◽  
Ricardo Roberto de Souza Fonseca ◽  
Tuane Carolina de Sousa Ferreira ◽  
Luana Lorena Silva Rodrigues ◽  
Andreza Reis Brasil da Silva ◽  
...  

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. Several studies have shown a higher prevalence of HPV infection in HIV-infected women. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the genotype diversity of HPV infection in HIV-infected women. From April 2010 to December 2012 cervical specimens were collected from 169 HIV-infected women who screening for cervical cancer at Reference Unit in Belém. The detection of HPV infection was performed by nested PCR and HPV type was performed using a commercial system. The prevalence of HPV infection was 63.3%. Of the 47 genotyped samples, 40.4% was found positive for high risk-HPV 16 and 12.8% for high risk-HPV 52. HPV infection was predominant in the group of women with no incidence of cytological abnormalities and more prevalent in women of reproductive age, unmarried, low education level, and who reported use condoms during sexual intercourse. It was observed an association between HPV infection and independent variables, such as condom use, multiple sexual partners, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. High-risk types of HPV infection were prevalent in our study. Infection with multiple high-risk HPV genotypes may potentiate the development of cervical cancer in HIV-infected women.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327481877535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lihua Chen ◽  
Yiyi Song ◽  
Guanyu Ruan ◽  
Qiaoyu Zhang ◽  
Fen Lin ◽  
...  

The use of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was recently approved in Mainland China. This study determined the knowledge and attitudes of young women aged 20 to 35 years in Fujian Province, China, with regard to HPV and vaccination and explored the potential factors influencing their attitudes toward HPV vaccination. This was a cross-sectional study that collected data regarding the knowledge on and attitudes toward HPV and vaccination using questionnaires. Furthermore, the prevalence of HPV was determined from the sampled participants. A total of 1001 young women were included in the survey. This study demonstrated that the HPV prevalence rate was 15.7% (157/1001). Among all patients, 44.9% (n = 449) had heard of HPV; however, detailed knowledge about HPV was lacking. The majority (83.7%) expressed a willingness to be vaccinated. Specifically, knowledge of the dangers of HPV infection was significantly associated with the willingness to be vaccinated. In this study, women cited some concerns and expressed high expectations for the HPV vaccine, but the costs of vaccination reduced their willingness to be vaccinated. This study found that most patients did not have a detailed knowledge of HPV. Thus, there is a need for continued HPV promotion and education efforts, especially on the dangers of HPV infection, among young women aged 20 to 35 years in Fujian Province, China. Furthermore, it is important to subsidize the costs of vaccination for promoting vaccination campaigns in China.


2021 ◽  
pp. 55-56
Author(s):  
Vishnu G. Ashok ◽  
Pretty Venis ◽  
Glannie A.R.

The uncertainty and dread linked with COVID-19 has contributed to a rise in mental health disorders among the general population showing high rates of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychological discomfort. The current study aims to assess the prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students of an Arts college in rural Tamilnadu. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 100 undergraduate students of an arts college selected by convenient sampling technique using GHQ-12 questionnaire via online platforms. Among the 100 medical students who participated in the study, 78% were found have severe problems with psychological distress. Leisure time activity like smartphone usage was found to have a signicant association with psychological distress (p<0.05) while other factors like gender, socio-economic status, physical activity, dietary preferences, junk food consumption and sleep habits were not associated statistically. Early recognition of students under stress and counselling will go a long way in helping students adjust to the demands of the educational curriculum.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (229) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumar Roka ◽  
Sabina Khadka ◽  
Sanju Dahal ◽  
Meenakshi Yadav ◽  
Puja Thapa ◽  
...  

Introduction: Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a significant health problem among medical students worldwide which can impair their cognitive and academic performances. Our study aims to determine the prevalence of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness among the first to fourth year undergraduate students of the Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences-College of Medicine. Methods: Following the ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee with registration no. 317, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the first to fourth year medical students of the Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences-College of Medicine from 4" to 10" August 2020. Two hundred and thirty-two students were selected for the study using the stratified random sampling technique. Epworth Sleepiness Scale was used to obtain data on daytime sleepiness among the study participants. The data were entered into Google spreadsheets and later analyzed. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with the frequency and proportion for binary data. Results: The prevalence of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness among the first to fourth year undergraduate students of the Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences-College of Medicine is found to be 67 (31.02%) at 95% Confidence Interval (24.85-37.19). It was found to be highly prevalent among the fourth year undergraduate medical students 20 (35.09%) and least prevalent among the first year students 13 (26.00%). Excessive Daytime Sleepiness was found to be slightly higher among females 23 (34.85%) than males 44 (29.33%). Conclusions: Excessive Daytime Sleepinessis highly prevalent among medical students in our study as suggested by various international studies.


Author(s):  
Mohan A. Sunkad ◽  
Shivalingappa Javali ◽  
Yesudas Shivapur ◽  
Appasaheb Wantamutte

This study aimed to evaluate the educational environment of the health sciences programs of KLE University, Belgaum, Karnataka, India, to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and to suggest strategies to improve the educational environment to be on par with global standards. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire, filled out by 914 of the 1,004 students (91.0%) who were majoring in medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, and public health. The data were analysed according to the DREEM guidelines. Responses were received from 914 students, of whom 34.03% were men and 65.9% were women. The majority (67.1%) of students were 20-24 years of age. The mean overall DREEM score was 120.21±22.4 (maximum, 200) and approached the normal distribution (Lilliefors test, P<0.01). The DREEM scores of each group of students were as follows: dental, 125.0; medical, 122.4; public health, 121.0; physiotherapy, 117.0; and nursing, 116.3. Male students had more positive perceptions than female students (P<0.05), and postgraduate students had more positive perceptions than undergraduate students (P<0.05). The overall DREEM score (120.21) indicates that the educational environment was found to be more positive than negative.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (04) ◽  
pp. 464-469
Author(s):  
Zahra Safdar ◽  
Faisal Ashraf ◽  
Alia Bashir

Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess the awareness about various aspects of HPV infection and vaccine among female doctors working in tertiary care centres. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: 3 Tertiary Care Hospitals Lahore. Period: Jan 2018 Jan 2019. Material & Methods: 478 female doctors from 03 tertiary care hospitals (Lady Atchison hospital, Lahore General Hospital and Services Institute of Medical Sciences) in Lahore who voluntarily filled 18-point self-administered questionnaire assessing their knowledge about HPV infection (8) HPV vaccine (5) and opinions about it (5). Knowledge score (range 0-8), assuming adequate knowledge > median. Factors associated with opinions were explored and analysed. Results: Most replied knowledge questions correctly 67.2%, 39.5% perceived it as frequently occurring infection. Median knowledge was 6 out of 8 questions; lack of knowledge was associated with non ob-gynae speciality or junior level. None of the participants were immunized but 46.3% were willing to get vaccinated themselves 78.1% were willing to get their daughters vaccinated. Self-perceived under exposure of HPV infection was 67.9%. Lack of feeling it as important in our social setting (28.6%), and expensiveness (19.4%) were most common causes of not counselling the patient about HPV vaccine and counselling to get vaccinated was most commonly done as it saves patients from cervical cancer (86.8%). Conclusions: Despite adequate knowledge of HPV infection and effectiveness of its vaccination, female doctors working in tertiary care hospitals of Lahore’s are not efficiently spreading awareness to the society and prescription of the vaccination is also deficient.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-94
Author(s):  
Priyadarshini Ramamurthy ◽  
Bennete Fernandes ◽  
Avita Rath

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of tobacco use among health sciences undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 students in four health sciences faculties at a private university in Kota Damansara, Selangor Malaysia. Data was collected through a self-administrated validated questionnaire, adopted and modified from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. The survey  was administered online  using a Google Form for the participants to fill. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics was used to express results in percentage. Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression was used to test the association of smoking status and demographic variables. p value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results showed that more than 90% of the respondents were aware of the harmful effects of tobacco and effects of passive smoking. About one fifth of the participants had used tobacco (19%) in our study. Out of the tobacco users, 95% had used tobacco in more than one form. The most important reasons for smoking were peer pressure (36%) and stress (35%). No significant differences were found between age,  faculty, year of study, or nationality, with the use of tobacco. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed significant gender differences in smoking with more smokers among males than females. In conclusion, about one fifth of the health science undergraduate students had  used tobacco products in our study reflecting a seemingly inappropriate portrait as compared to their future careers as health professionals. Therefore, there is an urgent need for reinforcement of education and assistance on quitting tobacco usage among the undergraduates of health science faculties.


Author(s):  
I. N. Ojule ◽  
I. E. Anika

Background: HPV infection is the most common STI in sexually active adolescents. It has been implicated in majority of cases of cervical cancers. HPV is preventable. Potent Vaccines are available. Objective: This study assessed what adolescents know about HPV infection and HPV vaccination, their attitude and uptake of HPV vaccine. This was also to raise awareness and obtain data that will be useful in identifying where to intervene to improve coverage. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in Rivers State, Nigeria. Study tool was a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Multi-stage sampling method was used to recruit adolescent girls from secondary schools. Results: 445 in-school adolescent girls aged 9 to 19 years participated. Mean age was 13.4 SD = ±2.2 years. 36.6% and 36.8% had heard of HPV infection and HPV vaccine respectively. Only 3.1% of the participants knew HPV could be prevented through vaccination. 71.7% indicated willingness to obtain the vaccine. Only 3.6% self reported to have received at least one dose of the vaccine at the time of the survey. Uptake of HPV vaccine (P=0.00), willingness to be vaccinated (P=0.005) highest among adolescents that had heard of HPV vaccine and those who perceived themselves to be at risk for HPV infection (P=0.005). Insufficient health information, cost of HPV vaccines identified as key barriers to vaccines utilization. Conclusion: Notwithstanding the low level of knowledge about HPV infection and HPV vaccines willingness to be vaccinated was high. Our study shows that uptake of vaccination is low in our locality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Lauro Miranda Demenech ◽  
Samuel C. Dumith ◽  
Alessandro S. Dytz ◽  
Fernanda Fontes ◽  
Lucas Neiva-Silva

ABSTRACT Objective To measure lifetime, last-year and last-month prevalence of Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs (NMUPD) as well as the characteristics associated to last-month NMUPD among undergraduate students of a university in southern Brazil. Methods This was a cross-sectional study, with a sample that was selected through a clustered systematic sampling strategy. Multivariate analysis was conducted with Poisson regression according to a four-level hierarchical model of analysis. Fieldwork was conducted in 2015, and 1,423 students participated. Results Lifetime, last-year and last-month prevalence of NMUPD were 25.2%, 13.1% and 8.5%, respectively. Anxiolytics and barbiturates were the most prevalent. Variables independently associated were being female, having a family income lower than one or higher than six Brazilian minimum wages, being enrolled in a health sciences-related undergraduate course, and having reported lifetime NMUPD by a friend. Conclusions Based on these results, we suggest the development of prevention and promotion activities on this theme for students and professors, especially among those from health sciences-related courses. These interventions should focus on harmful effects of NMUPD, psychosocial coping strategies and socially established gender roles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124\5
Author(s):  
Audrey Thomas ◽  
Phillip N.B. Da Silva ◽  
Dharamdeo Singh

Although cervical cancer is a leading cause of death among Guyanese women, there still appears to be a low uptake rate for the HPV vaccine. The objective of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation of the knowledge, awareness and attitudes of undergraduate students towards HPV and the HPV vaccine. A cross sectional study was conducted, using a stratified random sampling procedure with a 25% (164 respondents) sample at a tertiary institution in Guyana. A 40-item questionnaire was used in this study. Cronbach’s alpha for reliability of the research instrument was 0.81. The research instrument addressed questions on demographic characteristics of respondents, awareness, knowledge and attitudes and source of information about HPV and the HPV vaccine. The majority of respondents were females. Although 83.5% of respondents had a prior awareness of either HPV or the HPV vaccine, none of the respondents had ever received the HPV vaccine. Respondents had a somewhat fair level of knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine. There was a statistically significant difference between male and female students in the mean HPV knowledge, attitudes and willingness to accept the HPV vaccine. Only 40.9% of respondents were willing to take the HPV vaccine. The decision to not want to take the HPV vaccine was influenced by several factors. The observed differences and gender influences can have implications for local HPV education and awareness programmes and strategies.


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