Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV Vaccine Among Medical and Nursing Students of Duhok, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Human Papillomavirus infection is sexually transmitted and associated with several cancers, such as cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, head and neck, anal, and penile carcinoma. Health education plays a pivotal role in building knowledge and positive attitude about health issues. Objectives: The current study aimed at assessing the knowledge of final and pre-final students of colleges of medicine and nursing. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed between September 2017 and December 2017. The project was carried out in the College of Nursing and Azadi Teaching Hospital of Duhok, Iraq. An HPV knowledge questionnaire was used covering three HPV-related subjects, including cervical cancer-HPV association, HPV features, and HPV vaccines. All final and pre-final students of the college of medicine and nursing were recruited. Results: In cervical cancer-HPV association knowledge dimension, which composed of four questions, there were significant differences in knowledge regarding HPV-cancer association (77.6% for medical students versus 51.6% for nursing students, P Conclusions: The knowledge of students varied according to college, study year, and gender. Attention must be paid to HPV and quick revision is mandated to increase the awareness of students.

Keywords

• hpv
• vaccine
• cervical cancer
• hpv association
• iraq