Knowledge, attitude and perception towards Human Papillomavirus and its vaccination: A cross-sectional survey of female university students enrolled in health and non-health related programs

Understanding the human papillomavirus (HPV) and its vaccination is critical due to the global HPV- related disease burden and related costs. This study was based on a cross-sectional design to survey female students enrolled at the Universiti Teknologi MARA Puncak Alam Campus, Selangor, Malaysia. Our study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitude, and perception towards HPV and its vaccine among groups of university students from health and non-health-related programs. Link to validated questionnaires in the form of Google Forms were distributed through course heads. Intentionally, an equal number of sample sizes were obtained from the two groups. Two hundred out of 240 questionnaires targeted were collected (response rate equal 83%). Healthcare providers were the most common source of information. Age, education level, faculty and year of study were significant contributing factors to knowledge. 29% had already completed their immunisation schedule of 3 shots, while 40% had not received the vaccine and had not scheduled an appointment either. A Mann-Whitney test was done on the level of knowledge, which was low and moderate, regarding health issues, mode of transmission, prevention of HPV, vaccine benefits and side effects, which favoured the health-related students (median = 6.50) over the non-health-related students (median = 1.50), (p-value = 0.0001). Significant differences were observed regarding answers on attitudes toward vaccine benefits, perception of vaccination behaviour and external influences. Public health initiatives in developing education policies to equip university students, particularly those in non-health- related programs, with the knowledge, right attitude and perception are imperative to increase their vaccination uptake.