Abstract 1032: Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination among medical undergraduate students in Delhi: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV), a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, is a leading cause of cervical cancer, with high-risk strains such as HPV 16 and 18 contributing significantly to disease burden. Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, while in India, it ranks third, with an incidence rate of 18.3% (123, 907 cases) and a mortality rate of 9.1% (GLOBOCAN, 2020). Previous studies have highlighted significant gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to HPV and its vaccine. Furthermore, evidence indicates that targeted educational interventions can significantly enhance vaccine uptake and empower students to serve as effective advocates for vaccination. Objectives: This study aims to assess medical undergraduate students' knowledge about HPV and its vaccine, their vaccination status, and their attitudes towards HPV vaccination. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed at a medical college attached to a tertiary care hospital (Maulana Azad Medical College), Delhi, India. A total of 415 medical undergraduate students were enrolled via systematic random sampling. These participants were interviewed using a self-designed, pretested, semi-structured questionnaire including sections on sociodemographic data, knowledge about HPV and its vaccination, attitude toward the vaccine and actual vaccination practices among the study participants. Data was collected using Epicollect5 software. Data analysis was done using SAS software. Associations using Chi-square test (p<0.05). Results: The mean age of participants was 21 years (SD = 1.74), ranging from 18 to 27 years. Of the 415 participants, 46.5% (n = 193) were female, and 53.5% (n = 222) were male, with most from an upper-middle socioeconomic background. The mean knowledge scores for HPV vaccination and cervical cancer were 10.77 (SD = 4.10) out of 20 and 12.28 (SD = 3.47) out of 25, respectively. While two-thirds demonstrated adequate knowledge about cervical cancer, awareness of its causal link to HPV was limited. The mean attitude score was 41.59 (SD = 4.93) out of 50, reflecting a generally positive outlook, though concerns about side effects, cost, and cultural acceptance persisted. Only 12.5% (n = 52) were vaccinated, with lack of awareness, cost, and perceived lack of need as key barriers. Notably, 60% expressed willingness to vaccinate if provided at subsidized rates or through university health programs. Conclusion: The study highlights both opportunities and challenges in promoting HPV vaccination among medical undergraduates in Delhi. Despite positive knowledge and attitudes, vaccination uptake was low. Most students expressed willingness to vaccinate if offered at a subsidized cost or through accessible programs, suggesting cost-effective strategies and institutional support could improve coverage. Citation Format: Srishty Srishty, Rajesh Kumar, Bratati Banerjee, Amod Laxmikant Borle, Aseem Aseem. Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination among medical undergraduate students in Delhi: A cross-sectional study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 1032.