Knowledge and attitude towards human papillomavirus and its vaccine among medical students (MBBS) in a tertiary care teaching hospital In South India

According to the WHO, human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of 200 known viruses. Although they do not cause concerns in most people, infection with some high-risk types such as 16 and 18 causes cancer. Infection with milder strains are more common and tend to cause warts. Persistent HPV infection with high-risk HPV types is the cause of cervical cancer and is associated with cancers of the vulva, vagina, mouth/throat, penis and anus. Prophylactic vaccination against HPV can prevent these cancers. Medical professionals, especially doctors, are the foremost educators of the public in this matter. Hence this study was designed with the intent to identify and understand the amount of knowledge and the attitude towards HPV and its vaccine amongst undergraduate medical students. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted from June to August 2018 among 728 MBBS students from 1st to 4th year at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Chennai, India. A pre-tested and validated questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice towards HPV and its vaccine was administered. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22, with Pearson Chi-square test used to compare knowledge and attitude scores. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean total knowledge score was 7 (SD = 2.712) out of 11, indicating average knowledge. The mean attitude score was 4.42 (SD = 2.617) out of 10, reflecting a neutral attitude. There was a significant association between knowledge and attitude scores (p = 0.0002). Knowledge scores improved progressively from 1st to 4th year (mean scores: 1st year—4.91, 4th year—7.77). The primary source of information was the internet and media. Only 17.99% of students had been vaccinated against HPV. The main reasons for not recommending the vaccine were lack of knowledge and concerns about safety and affordability. Educational efforts should focus on enhancing medical students’ knowledge about HPV and its vaccine to foster more positive attitudes. Introducing comprehensive training programs and structured educational plans can help bridge the gap between partial and complete knowledge, ensuring that preventative measures become routine practice. This is particularly crucial as today’s medical students are the future clinicians who will normalize HPV prevention strategies in everyday healthcare. By establishing a robust foundation in preventive medicine and epidemiology, we prepare these future doctors to tackle preventable diseases effectively, ultimately improving public health outcomes and the overall well-being of the community.