Title: Mapping Awareness and Attitude Pattern of Medical Students on Cervical Cancer Preventive Vaccination and Screening for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Author: Rajendran NK, Ramarajan S, Vijai Surya, Balasubramanian S
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i7.75
Introduction: The role of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection in cervical cancer development is a strongly established relationship. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death due to cancers in women. The recognition that cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection and can be prevented by vaccination, and curable if diagnosed in the early stages is an immense scientific contribution to the mankind. However, vaccination is a benefaction for the Indian people with low-socio-economic status in whom preventive screening is almost never done. Aim: This study aims to collect and assess the familiarity and recognition on Human papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and HPV vaccination rate among medical students in our medical college. Medical students, the future health care providers are necessary for spreading knowledge among people in the general population. Success of any vaccination program depends on creating awareness in the population. Materials and Methods: This is a cross sectional study carried out in our medical college, Karpagam Faculty of Medical Sciences and Research, in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. Total of 473 students, both male and female from clinical and pre-clinical semesters are approached with a structured explorative questionnaire form in English. The students are assessed after informing them that this study is only for research purpose and their identity will be preserved. Statistically, the collected data were analyzed. Results: Our study has revealed that majority of students from both genders in undergraduate medical education program have limited knowledge on many aspects of the HPV infection and HPC vaccination. Therefore, there is an urgency to implement necessary measures to increase their knowledge as well as the general public with regard to HPV and the benefits of vaccination. Thereby, the burden of cervical cancer will be reduced in a low-income country like India. Conclusion: First, awareness and education among medical people and later among general public will have a great impact on the implementation of the IAP immunization program and its future successful coverage of vaccination and thereby prevention of cervical cancer. Our data will help the national immunization committee to plan the future strategies required to improve the immunization coverage in India. Further studies are suggested on the vaccinated group for clinical effectiveness of the vaccine. Keywords: human papilloma virus (HPV), immunization, medical students, cervical cancer and cytology screening.
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