Knowledge, acceptance, and use of human papillomavirus vaccines among undergraduate students of the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, and its infection is a global concern. More than half a million cancers and over 250,000 deaths are attributed annually to HPV infection. The knowledge, acceptance, and vaccine uptake will help reduce the transmission of HPV infection and the subsequent development of cancers. This study assessed the level of knowledge, acceptance, and use of HPV vaccines among undergraduate pharmacy students using a self-administered, adapted, and validated questionnaire. The questionnaire contained information under four cluster headings: demographics, knowledge of HPV, HPV Vaccination, acceptance, and HPV vaccine uptake. It was distributed to randomly selected eligible students in the faculty. The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the findings. The level of significance was set at a p-value of <0.05.  The number of students who participated was 253, comprising 126 (49.8%) males and 127 (50.2%) females.  Of the total, 216 (85.4%) have heard of HPV, 189 (74.7%) have heard of HPV Vaccination, 160 (63.2%) believed that only girls should be vaccinated, and 253 (100%) have not received the vaccination. The participants showed a fair knowledge of HPV, but a low level of knowledge of HPV Vaccination, as 216 (85.4%) knew that HPV is dangerous, 142 (56.1%) knew that the virus causes cervical cancer, and only 93 (36.8%) knew that the HPV vaccine is recommended for both males and females.  None of the participants had received the vaccine, and most of them (60.1%) were willing to accept the HPV vaccine. This study suggested that the pharmacy students have a fair knowledge of cervical cancer and HPV but are less informed regarding the HPV vaccines. Despite a below-average knowledge about the HPV vaccines, the students showed a willingness to receive the HPV vaccines.