Knowledge of human papillomavirus vaccines among university students in Angola

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the first most common cancer among women in Angola and accounts for 37.6% of cancers among women in Angola. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a causative agent of the disease. Recent advances in technology have led to the introduction of vaccines to prevent HPV infection. This study aims to assess the awareness of university students about HPV infection as a causal factor for cervical cancer and their knowledge about HPV vaccination. Assessing knowledge about vaccination among university students helps us to understand the level of awareness about it.

Material and Methods: A questionnaire-based study was carried out on 106 university students, from May 10th to July 26th, 2021. The questionnaire consisted of 10 multiple-choice questions and the results were analyzed using percentages.

Results: Knowledge about HPV as a causative agent of cervical cancer was found in 84.2% of students. Awareness of the availability of the HPV vaccine was observed in 55.3%. Complete vaccination status was verified in 0% male students and 13% female students. No male students and 13 female students received incomplete vaccination. 33 men and 73 women were willing to be vaccinated with the HPV vaccine.

Conclusion: The present study concludes that there is not a good knowledge of university students about cervical cancer and its prevention. There is also little knowledge about the HPV vaccine, meaning the availability of the vaccine, the right age group for vaccination, and the recommended vaccination for men need to be improved. Vaccination status is poor among men and women because it is not on the national vaccination calendar. The desire to get vaccinated in male students was lower compared to female students. Thus, there seems to be a need to motivate male students for vaccination. Therefore, more awareness should be created about the HPV vaccine among students. The government through the Ministry of Health must incorporate the HPV vaccine in the vaccination calendar.

RESUMO

Introdução: O cancro do colo do útero é o primeiro cancro mais comum entre as mulheres na Angola e representa 37,6% dos cancros entre as mulheres na Angola. O papilomavírus humano (HPV) é um agente causador da doença. Os recentes avanços na tecnologia levaram à introdução de vacinas para prevenir a infecção pelo HPV. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o conhecimento de estudantes universitários sobre a infecção pelo HPV como fator causal para o câncer do colo do útero e seu conhecimento sobre a vacinação contra o HPV. Avaliar o conhecimento sobre vacinação entre estudantes universitários nos ajuda a compreender o nível de conscientização sobre a mesma.

Material e Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo baseado em questionário com 106 estudantes universitários, de 10 de maio a 26 de julho de 2021. O questionário era composto por 10 questões de múltipla escolha e os resultados foram analisados por meio de porcentagens.

Resultados: O conhecimento sobre o HPV como agente causador do câncer do colo do útero foi encontrado em 84,2% das estudantes. O conhecimento da disponibilidade da vacina contra o HPV foi observado em 55,3%. O estado vacinal completo foi verificado em 0% de estudantes do sexo masculino e 13% de estudantes do sexo feminino. Nenhum estudante do sexo masculino e 13 do sexo feminino receberam vacinação incompleta. 33 homens e 73 mulheres estavam dispostos a serem vacinados com a vacina contra o HPV.

Conclusão: O presente estudo conclui que não há um bom conhecimento dos universitários sobre o câncer do colo do útero e sua prevenção. Também há pouco conhecimento sobre a vacina contra o HPV, o que significa que a disponibilidade da vacina, a faixa etária certa para a vacinação e a vacinação recomendada para homens precisa ser aprimorada. A situação vacinal é ruim entre homens e mulheres, porque não está no calendário nacional de vacinação. O desejo de se vacinar nos alunos do sexo masculino foi menor em relação aos do sexo feminino. Assim, parece haver necessidade de motivar os estudantes do sexo masculino para a vacinação. Portanto, mais conscientização deve ser criada sobre a vacina contra o HPV entre os alunos. O governo através do Ministério da Saúde deve incorporar a vacina contra o HPV no calendário de vacinação.

Keywords:

Knowledge - Papillomavirus infections - Angola - Faculty - Students - Uterine cervical neoplasms

Palavras-chave:

Conhecimento - Infecções por papilomavírus - Angola - Faculdade - Estudantes - Neoplasias do colo do útero

Publication History

Received: 02 September 2021

Accepted: 28 March 2022

Article published online:
22 June 2022

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