Assessment of knowledge and attitude towards human papilloma virus vaccination and associated factors among high school female students in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: Institution based cross sectional study

Introduction: Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer among women globally and is primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the most prevalent virus affecting the reproductive system. The peak period for infection occurs shortly after the onset of sexual activity for both men and women. Although penetrative intercourse is not necessary for HPV transmission, it is classified as a sexually transmitted infection. Genital contact between skin cells is a well-known mechanism for transmission. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at an in stitution. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. After verifying the consistency and completeness of the responses, the data were im ported into Epi Data version 4.6.0.2 and then exported to SPSS Windows version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the frequency of dependent and independent variables. The original logistic model included all explanatory vari ables with a p-value of less than 0.25 in bivariate logistic regression analysis. In multivariate logistic regression, a p-value of less than 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval was considered significant. The statistical association between knowledge and attitudes regarding the HPV vaccine, along with both crude and adjusted odds ratios, were determined. Results: A total of 350 respondents participated in the study, yielding a response rate of 92%. The findings indicated that 204 (58.3%) of the female high school students had good knowledge about HPV vaccination. In multivariate analyses, students whose fathers could read and write were approximately 3.45 times more likely to have good knowledge about HPV vaccination compared to those whose fathers could not read and write (AOR = 3.45, 95% CI: (1.26-9.47)). Regarding attitudes, 184 (52.6%) exhibited a favorable attitude toward HPV vaccination. Students who received health education on HPV vaccination were about 2.08 times more likely to have a positive attitude compared to those who did not receive such education (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI: (1.06-3.45)). Conclusion: The study reveals a relatively high level of knowledge and an average level of attitude toward HPV vaccination among respondents. There remain opportunities for further education, advocacy, and support to enhance both knowledge and attitudes.