Knowledge about Cervical Cancer and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine among Female Students from Serbia
<i>Background and objectives</i>: Persistent infection with carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer. The study explored students’ knowledge about cervical cancer and awareness of human papillomavirus and the HPV vaccine. <i>Materials and Meth...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/56/8/406 |
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| author | Nataša K. Rančić Milan B. Golubović Mirko V. Ilić Aleksanda S. Ignjatović Radomir M. Živadinović Saša N. Đenić Stefan D. Momčilović Biljana N. Kocić Zoran G. Milošević Suzana A. Otašević |
| author_facet | Nataša K. Rančić Milan B. Golubović Mirko V. Ilić Aleksanda S. Ignjatović Radomir M. Živadinović Saša N. Đenić Stefan D. Momčilović Biljana N. Kocić Zoran G. Milošević Suzana A. Otašević |
| author_sort | Nataša K. Rančić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and objectives</i>: Persistent infection with carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer. The study explored students’ knowledge about cervical cancer and awareness of human papillomavirus and the HPV vaccine. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A questionnaire-based survey was carried out among 1616 first-year female college students at the University of Niš. It examined socio-demographic characteristics, measured the score of knowledge about cervical cancer, assessed awareness regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine and inquired about the source of information about cervical cancer and HPV. <i>Results</i>: The average cervical cancer knowledge score was 16.35 ± 7.92 (min 0, max 30), with medical professional education, parents’ education level, place of residence and relationship status having significant effects on the score. The awareness about HPV and the HPV vaccine was low, with only 14.2% of students having heard about both HPV and its vaccine. The most commonly reported sources of information were the media, while the most competent one was organized health education. <i>Conclusions</i>: Health promotion campaigns and educational programs are necessary in order to reduce cervical cancer burden and should be directed particularly towards those who have demonstrated low cervical cancer knowledge and low awareness regarding HPV and its vaccine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:55:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ba3959877244c8fa638537fe62203f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:55:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ba3959877244c8fa638537fe62203f82023-09-02T16:02:45ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X2020-08-015640640610.3390/medicina56080406Knowledge about Cervical Cancer and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine among Female Students from SerbiaNataša K. Rančić0Milan B. Golubović1Mirko V. Ilić2Aleksanda S. Ignjatović3Radomir M. Živadinović4Saša N. Đenić5Stefan D. Momčilović6Biljana N. Kocić7Zoran G. Milošević8Suzana A. Otašević9Faculty of Medicine Niš, University of Niš, 18 000 Niš, SerbiaClinic of Pediatrics, Clinical Center Niš, 18 000 Niš, SerbiaCenter for Control and Prevention of Diseases, Institute for Public Health Niš, 18 000 Niš, SerbiaFaculty of Medicine Niš, University of Niš, 18 000 Niš, SerbiaFaculty of Medicine Niš, University of Niš, 18 000 Niš, SerbiaCenter for Radiology, Clinical Center Niš, 18 000 Niš, SerbiaClinic for Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, Clinical Center Niš, 18 000 Niš, SerbiaFaculty of Medicine Niš, University of Niš, 18 000 Niš, SerbiaFaculty of Medicine Niš, University of Niš, 18 000 Niš, SerbiaFaculty of Medicine Niš, University of Niš, 18 000 Niš, Serbia<i>Background and objectives</i>: Persistent infection with carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer. The study explored students’ knowledge about cervical cancer and awareness of human papillomavirus and the HPV vaccine. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A questionnaire-based survey was carried out among 1616 first-year female college students at the University of Niš. It examined socio-demographic characteristics, measured the score of knowledge about cervical cancer, assessed awareness regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine and inquired about the source of information about cervical cancer and HPV. <i>Results</i>: The average cervical cancer knowledge score was 16.35 ± 7.92 (min 0, max 30), with medical professional education, parents’ education level, place of residence and relationship status having significant effects on the score. The awareness about HPV and the HPV vaccine was low, with only 14.2% of students having heard about both HPV and its vaccine. The most commonly reported sources of information were the media, while the most competent one was organized health education. <i>Conclusions</i>: Health promotion campaigns and educational programs are necessary in order to reduce cervical cancer burden and should be directed particularly towards those who have demonstrated low cervical cancer knowledge and low awareness regarding HPV and its vaccine.https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/56/8/406cervical cancerHPVHPV vaccineknowledgeawarenessstudent population |
| spellingShingle | Nataša K. Rančić Milan B. Golubović Mirko V. Ilić Aleksanda S. Ignjatović Radomir M. Živadinović Saša N. Đenić Stefan D. Momčilović Biljana N. Kocić Zoran G. Milošević Suzana A. Otašević Knowledge about Cervical Cancer and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine among Female Students from Serbia Medicina cervical cancer HPV HPV vaccine knowledge awareness student population |
| title | Knowledge about Cervical Cancer and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine among Female Students from Serbia |
| title_full | Knowledge about Cervical Cancer and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine among Female Students from Serbia |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge about Cervical Cancer and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine among Female Students from Serbia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge about Cervical Cancer and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine among Female Students from Serbia |
| title_short | Knowledge about Cervical Cancer and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine among Female Students from Serbia |
| title_sort | knowledge about cervical cancer and awareness of human papillomavirus hpv and hpv vaccine among female students from serbia |
| topic | cervical cancer HPV HPV vaccine knowledge awareness student population |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/56/8/406 |
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