Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Medical College Students in Khulna, Bangladesh

Background and aims: Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, with persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection as the primary cause. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HPV, CC, and HPV vaccination among female medical students at public and private medical colleges in Khulna, Bangladesh, with a particular focus on their knowledge and attitudes. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted using cluster-stratified random sampling among 180 female students from January to April 2024. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire adapted from validated tools. Spearman’s rho and Kendall’s tau-b tests assessed relationships among KAP variables, while chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression estimated associations and odds ratios. Results: Most participants were 20–22 years old (57.8%) and unmarried (86.1%), with a high proportion reporting well-educated parents. In addition, 97.2% of students demonstrated adequate knowledge about HPV and CC, and 99.5% held positive attitudes. However, preventive practices were comparatively lower (89.5%), and only 16.1% had received the HPV vaccine. Moreover, knowledge was positively correlated with attitude and practice, and attitude was also strongly correlated with practice. Based on multivariate analysis, higher knowledge levels were associated with participants’ education (OR=0.813) and mothers’ education (OR=1.730), while better preventive practices were related to mothers’ education (OR=2.123). Conclusion: Despite high knowledge and positive attitudes, HPV vaccination uptake remains low. Stronger vaccination campaigns, targeted awareness programs, and closer parental involvement, particularly from mothers, are needed to improve preventive behaviors while reducing CC risk in Bangladesh.