The current status of cervical cancer awareness and HPV Vaccination among rural women of India: An impediment to the WHO cervical cancer elimination initiative

The present study depicts diffuse knowledge about cervical cancer and low uptake of HPV vaccination in rural areas, not affected by sociodemographic characteristics. This calls for large-scale health advocacy programs to promote regular screening to generate demand and improve acceptance of the soon-to-be-launched indigenous HPV vaccine in the Universal Immunization program and achieve the WHO global target of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030.