“STUDY OF AWARENESS OF HUMAN PAPILOMA VIRUS AND HPV VACCINE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS”

• Author Details:   
• Swetha. R
• Dr. Rohini.P ^*

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Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. Cancer cervix is caused by Human papilloma virus. Despite high prevalence, awareness of HPV is generally poor in most of the countries. This study was to assess HPV and HPV vaccine awareness, HPV-related knowledge, and attitudes towards HPV vaccination among medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2013 to assess the level of awareness about various aspects of HPV infection and vaccine among medical students. According to 109 (69.4%) students carcinoma cervix was the most common cancer in women in India. Almost 137(87.3%) of the students knew HPV was the causative agent for ca cervix but only 115 (73.2%) answered common strains of HPV in causation of ca cervix. Almost 97(61.8%) students knew that HPV vaccine prevents carcinoma cervix. Almost 81 (97.6%) of the girls opined that they would like to get vaccinated while 137 (87.3%) students agreed that they will advice vaccination to others. Low level of awareness was observed among the students.