A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Attitude regarding Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine in the Prevention of Cervix Cancer among Adolescent girls of selected Schools, District Ludhiana, Punjab

Prabhjot Saini¹, Anamika Saini²

¹MSN Department, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha College of Nursing, Sarabha, Ludhiana, Punjab.

²Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Department, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha College of Nursing,

Sarabha, Ludhiana, Punjab.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: anamikasaini075@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

A study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine in the prevention of cervix cancer among adolescent girls of selected schools, District Ludhiana, Punjab. An Quantitative research research approach and non-experimental research design was used on 200 adolescent girls in Government school of Mansoran and Sarabha, Ludhiana, Punjab. Data was collected by using self-structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine in the prevention of cervix cancer among adolescent girls. The result shows that adolescent girls have below average knowledge and neutral attitude towards HPV vaccine.

KEYWORDS: HPV vaccine, Knowledge, Attitude and Adolescent girls.

INTRODUCTION:

Cervix cancer occurs when normal cells in the cervix change into cancer cells. Cervix cancer develops in a woman's cervix (the entrance to the uterus from the vagina). HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus and responsible for causing cervix cancer and also produces genital warts. There are two types of HPV virus 16 and 18 which are responsible for more than 80% of cervix cancer in India. Pap smear test can be done for screening the cervix cancer. There are two types of HPV vaccines available in India one is quadrivalent vaccine called Gardasil and second one is bivalent called Cervarix.

NEED:

There are some reasons exist such as higher cost of vaccines, including societal, religious and cultural issues and fear of adverse effects that may occur after immunization. Another major reason is the lack of awareness and knowledge about HPV, HPV vaccines and cervical cancer among people resulting in only small number of immunizations being carried out at private clinics. It is of general observation that HPV immunization of adolescent girls is mainly found among the educated mass of India. On the contrary, in western countries like U.S.A and Europe, HPV vaccines are approved for mass scale use and included in the national immunization program for reducing the burden of cervical cancer.

For primary prevention, recently two vaccines, a quadrivalent (HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11) Gardasil and a bivalent (HPV 19 and 18) Cervarix have been introduced for vaccinating young adolescent girls between ages 9–13 and/or 13–26-year young adults. These two HPV vaccines were US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved and are commercially available in India.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the knowledge regarding HPV virus in the prevention of cervix cancer.

2. To assess the attitude regarding HPV vaccine in the prevention of cervix cancer.

3. To find out the association of knowledge and attitude regarding HPV in the prevention of cervix cancer among adolescent girls.

4. To find out association of knowledge and attitude with socio-bio demographic variables regarding HPV vaccine in the prevention of cervix cancer among adolescent girls.

5. To prepare information education and communication (IEC) material in the form of booklet regarding HPV vaccine in the prevention of cervix cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

A quantitative research approach was used for this study. The study was carried out in G.G.S.S.S School Mansoran and S.K.S.S.G.S.S. School Sarabha, District Ludhiana, Punjab. The sample consisted of 200 adolescent girls and selected by using non-probability convenient sampling technique. Data collection was done in the month of June. Data was collected by administering the self-structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the level of knowledge regarding HPV vaccine and self-structured attitude scale to assess the attitude toward HPV vaccine among adolescent girls. Data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS:

The present study revealed that 30% adolescent girls with mean Age (15.82±1.31) 52.5% had poor knowledge regarding HPV vaccine (M±SD 11.27±2.94) and 84.5% had a neutral attitude towards HPV vaccine. There is no correlation of knowledge with attitude regarding HPV vaccine (r=0.005).

CONCLUSION:

The study concluded that adolescent girls have below average knowledge and neutral attitude towards HPV vaccine. Therefore, it is recommended that awareness programmes on HPV vaccine and cervix cancer should be taken.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

● This study can be done in larger population for more valid and generalized finding.

● Several types of IEC Material for eg. Seminars, webinars, workshops and awareness programs can be provided for more effective health education and awareness of population.

REFERENCES:

1. HPV vaccines and Screening in the Prevention of Cervical Cancer. BMJ. 31 August 2006; Volume 24 (3): 5 6.

2. Byrd TL, Peterson SK, Chavez R, Heckert A. Cervical screening belief among women. Preventive Medicine. 2004 Feb; 38 (2):1927.

3. Rangaswamy Sankaranarayanan et al. Effect of visual screening on cervical cancer incidence and mortality in Tamil Nadu, India. A Cluster- Randomized Trial Volume 370, Issue 9585, 4 August 2007, 398-40.

4. Kahn JA. HPV Vaccination for the Prevention of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jul 16; 361(3):271- 8. Available from www.pubmed.com.

Received on 23.02.2023 Modified on 27.04.2023

A and V Pub Int. J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2023; 2(3):83-84.

DOI: 10.52711/ijnmr.2023.19