Awareness on etiology and preventive measures of cancer cervix among female medical students in Rajarajeswari Medical College, Bengaluru

Sabarinath Purushothaman; Vidya Gowda; Srividya Venkatakrishna

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20261784

Authors

Sabarinath Purushothaman Department of Community Medicine, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Vidya Gowda Department of Community Medicine, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Srividya Venkatakrishna Department of Community Medicine, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20261784

Keywords:

Cervical cancer, HPV, HPV vaccination, Medical students, Pap smear

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary etiological factor. Although HPV vaccination and Pap smear screening are effective preventive measures, awareness and utilization remain inadequate in many settings. This study assessed awareness regarding cervical cancer etiology and preventive measures among female medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 female medical students at Rajarajeswari Medical College, Bengaluru. Data were collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire assessing knowledge regarding HPV infection, risk factors, screening and HPV vaccination. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were applied.

Results: All participants had heard of HPV infection and cervical cancer. Awareness regarding HPV transmission through genital contact was reported by 87% of participants, while 84% identified sexually transmitted diseases as a risk factor. Pap smear as a screening method was known to 98.7% of students. Awareness regarding HPV vaccine was reported by 98.7% and 94.7% were willing to receive vaccination; however, only 38.7% had been vaccinated. Educational level showed significant association with knowledge regarding target age for HPV vaccination (p=0.035) and recommended age for first Pap smear (p=0.030).

Conclusions: Awareness regarding cervical cancer and preventive measures was high among medical students, but HPV vaccine uptake remained low despite high willingness. Improved educational interventions and better vaccine accessibility are needed.

References

Cheema S, Abraham A, Maisonneuve P, Jithesh A. HPV infection and vaccination: a cross-sectional study of knowledge, perception, and attitude to vaccine uptake among university students in Qatar. BMC Publ Health. 2024;24(1):2316.

Regasa T, Sendo EG, Deressa JT. Human papillomavirus knowledge, perception, and willingness to receive vaccination among female university students in Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, 2022: a cross-sectional study. SAGE Open Nurs. 2023;9:23154.

Patel DA, Zochowski M, Peterman S, Dempsey AF, Ernst S, Dalton VK. Human papillomavirus vaccine intent and uptake among female college students. Journal of American College Health. 2012 Feb 1;60(2):151-61.

Shetty S, Prabhu S, Shetty V, Shetty AK. Knowledge, attitudes and factors associated with acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among undergraduate medical, dental and nursing students in South India. Human Vacc Immunotherap. 2019;15(7):1656-65.

Altamimi T. Human papillomavirus and its vaccination: Knowledge and attitudes among female university students in Saudi Arabia. J Fam Med Primary Care. 2020;9(4):1849-55.

Atif N, Hashmi FK, Malik UR, Ghauri MA. From awareness to acceptance: understanding HPV and vaccine knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among university students in Punjab, Pakistan. J Pharma Pol Practice. 2025;18(1):2473023.

Rehman A, Srivastava S, Garg PR, Garg R, Kurian K, Shumayla S, Rathi SK, Mehra S. Awareness about human papillomavirus vaccine and its uptake among women from North India: evidence from a cross-sectional study. Asian Pacific J Can Prev. 2022;23(12):4307.

Patel DA, Zochowski M, Peterman S, Dempsey AF, Ernst S, Dalton VK. Human papillomavirus vaccine intent and uptake among female college students. J American Coll Heal. 2012;60(2):151-61.

Yacouti A, Elkhoudri N, El Got A, Benider A, Hadrya F, Baddou R. Awareness, attitudes and acceptability of the HPV vaccine among female university students in Morocco. PLoS One. 2022;17(4):266081.

Sorrentino M, Mercogliano M, Esposito F. Identification of organizational barriers to HPV vaccination uptake in medical students in southern Italy: a cross-sectional study. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1272630.

Yang H, Yangyuen S, Sombateyotha K. Human papillomavirus vaccination intention and its associated factors among female medical college students in Hubei, China: A cross-sectional study. J Edu Health Promot. 2024;13(1):302.

Chauhan S, Tiwari SK, Dubey V. Knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV vaccination among nursing students. BMC Med. 2025;4:457.