Knowledge and Acceptability of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Cervical Cancer Screening among Women in Karnataka, India

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in India; however, participation in prevention and screening is low and the reasons for this are not well understood. In a cross-sectional survey in August 2008, 202 healthy women in Karnataka, India completed a questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. Factors associated with vaccination and Papanicolau (Pap) smear screening acceptance were explored. Thirty-six percent of women had heard of HPV while 15% had heard of cervical cancer. Five percent of women reported ever having a Pap smear, and 4% of women felt at risk of HPV infection. Forty-six percent of women were accepting of vaccination, but fewer (21%) were willing to have a Pap smear. Overall, knowledge related to HPV and cervical cancer topics was low. Women with negative attitudes toward HPV infection were 5.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.8-10) times more likely to accept vaccination but were not significantly more likely to accept Pap smear (odds ratio 1.5, 95% CI 0.7-3.0). Cost and a low level of perceived risk were the most frequent factors cited as potential barriers. Improving awareness of HPV and cervical cancer through health care providers in addition to increasing access to vaccination and screening through government-sponsored programs may be feasible and effective methods to reduce cervical cancer burden in India.

Awareness about human papilloma virus vaccine among medical students

“…Various studies have shown a very poor level of awareness regarding the HPV vaccine. 11,13,14 For the public to be aware, it is essential that those in the medical field have a sound knowledge first. This includes health care professionals as well as medical students.…”

“…There are a number of reasons for this, main reasons being lack of awareness-about the relationship of HPV with cervical cancer and about the availability of the vaccine, high costs and recent unproved controversies stating that these vaccines have had adverse side effects. 11 This lack of awareness is a matter of concern as one of the ways by which we can decrease the burden of cervical cancer is by mass vaccination against HPV and mass screening programs.…”

<b>Conceptions of women on cervical cancer screening

“…Researchers found that the knowledge of 202 healthy Indian women relating HPV to CC was low because they did not know the most coherent method to prevent CC (Montgomery, Dune, Shetty, & Shetty, 2015). This confirms that low knowledge about HPV is associated with less ability to correctly prevent this oncogenic agent by performing the Pap smear screening test.…”

Challenges of health promotion and education strategies to prevent cervical cancer in India: A systematic review

“…Overall, 77 papers and one dissertation were eligible for analysis and were listed in the order of publication years. [171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879808182838485868788899091929394] The review process is explained in Figure 1.…”