Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Glob. Womens Health
Sec. Infectious Diseases in Women
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2024.1470048

Knowledge and Awareness toward Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among Saudi Female Nursing Students

Provisionally accepted
Amal K. Alanazi Amal K. Alanazi 1,2*Eithar Kayal Eithar Kayal 1Shahad Alanzi Shahad Alanzi 1Hanadi Al Hodian Hanadi Al Hodian 1Alhanouf Bin Rusayes Alhanouf Bin Rusayes 1
  • 1 College of Nursing, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • 2 King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Abstract Introduction: Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted agent, causing cervical cancer. In Saudi Arabia, cervical cancer is ranked as the ninth most common carcinoma in women. HPV vaccine is an effective prevention method against HPV high-risk types such as HPV 18 and 16. Research on HPV vaccine knowledge and awareness is limited due to the lack of extensive data reportage on HPV and cervical cancer cases among Saudi women. Aim: This study was aimed to determine the knowledge and awareness of human papillomavirus vaccination among Saudi nursing female students. Methods: This study was cross-sectional and included (n=114) participants. The study used an online survey, which included demographical variables and the HPV knowledge scale. The data were collected from October 10, 2023, until January 3, 2024. Descriptive data, Mann-Whitney Z-tests and nonparametric tests were used to analyze the study’s findings. Results: The study participants' mean age was 20.8 years (SD 1.6). Most students (72%) did not receive the HPV vaccine. The overall mean HPV knowledge was 10.0 (SD 7.08). The HPV knowledge subscales showed poor levels of knowledge of HPV infection, screening, and vaccines: 5.15 (SD 3.87), 1.39 (SD 1.34), and 2.06 (SD 1.87), respectively. Discussion: In conclusion, Saudi Arabia having a predominantly youthful population, it is crucial to implement educational programs that improve the understanding and awareness of HPV infection among nursing students and other health professionals. There is a necessity to establish impactful awareness campaigns and integrate interventional research to inform health professionals and the public about the disease and dispel misunderstandings and cultural beliefs about HPV and HPV vaccines to prevent cervical cancers among young females.

    Keywords: Human papillomavirus, knowledge, Nursing, Vaccine, cervical cancer

    Received: 24 Jul 2024; Accepted: 10 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Alanazi, Kayal, Alanzi, Al Hodian and Bin Rusayes. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Amal K. Alanazi, College of Nursing, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.