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By: M.Melvin David, R. Aruna Kumari, S. Subhavelvizhi, T K Sreedevi, M NPavithra, K.Daniel Arun Kumar, and R. Sai Swetha.
1.Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
2.Professor, Department of Child Health Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
3.Associate Professor, Department of Mental Health Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
4.Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and gynaecological Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
5.Professor, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
6.Student, Department of Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection poses a significant global public health concern, particularly among adolescent girls. Understanding their knowledge and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine is crucial for designing effective preventive strategies. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding the HPV vaccine among adolescent girls in selected schools at Kuppam. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 adolescent girls studying in 6th to 10th grade in selected schools at Kuppam, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. A convenient sampling technique was used to select the participants. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire comprising sections on demographic variables, knowledge about HPV and the vaccine (25 items), and attitude toward the HPV vaccine (10 items rated on a 0–4 Likert scale). The reliability of the knowledge and attitude tools was established with a Cronbach’s Alpha of r = 0.82. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Research Committee and Institutional Human Ethics Committee of PESIMSR, Kuppam. Results:This study assessed demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude toward the HPV vaccine among 386 adolescent girls in Kuppam. Most participants had basic (59.6%) to average (39.1%) knowledge and overwhelmingly held a positive attitude (95.6%) toward the vaccine. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between age in years (p = 0.002), academic year (p = 0.001), and mother’s education (p = 0.010) with the level of knowledge, indicating higher knowledge among older students, those in higher grades, and those whose mothers had primary or secondary education. Furthermore, significant associations were found between age in years (p < 0.001), academic year (p < 0.001), and mother’s occupation (p < 0.001) with attitude, with older students, those in higher grades, and daughters of daily wage laborers showing more positive attitudes. Conclusion: The findings indicate a high positive attitude toward the HPV vaccine among adolescent girls in Kuppam despite a generally basic to average level of knowledge. The significant associations of age, academic year, and mother’s education with knowledge, and age, academic year, and mother’s occupation with attitude, highlight the importance of considering these demographic factors when designing targeted educational interventions to enhance understanding and potentially improve HPV vaccination uptake in this population. Future efforts should focus on addressing the knowledge gap and leveraging the existing positive attitudes, particularly among younger students and those with less educated mothers.
Keywords: HPV vaccination, adolescent girls, knowledge, attitudes, vaccine
Citation:
Refrences:
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