Knowledge Attitude and Practice Study on Adolescent Females: A Perspective from Northwestern Uttar Pradesh

Background: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in India, where high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are prevalent. Despite the introduction of HPV vaccines in various countries, awareness and acceptance of vaccination among Indian females are notably low. This study aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge regarding HPV infection and its prevention among adolescent girls aged 10-19 years attending a tertiary care hospital in Northwest Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Sharda Hospital, Greater Noida, enrolling 332 participants through structured questionnaires assessing sociodemographic factors, knowledge levels, and attitudes towards HPV infection, cervical cancer and HPV vaccine. Chi square test and Mann Whitney test was used to analyse the association between knowledge score and various socio demographic factors and education status and family income with acceptance of HPV vaccination respectively. Results: The results revealed that only 19.8% of participants achieved a satisfactory knowledge score, indicating a substantial gap in understanding the role of HPV in cervical cancer. Statistical analyses demonstrated significant associations between knowledge scores and factors such as education status, family income, and residence. The study highlighted that lower educational attainment correlated with reduced willingness to receive the HPV vaccine. Conclusion: The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted educational interventions to enhance awareness of HPV and promote vaccination, particularly as HPV vaccination is not yet made available free of cost in India's national immunization schedule. This research highlights the critical importance of targeted educational interventions to improve the awareness and acceptance of HPV vaccination among adolescents to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in India. Further research is warranted to address knowledge gaps and promote HPV vaccination in diverse populations. Keywords: Human Papilloma Virus, HPV vaccine, Cervical cancer, Adolescent, Knowledge and awareness