Abstract
M.Tech. (Biomedical Technology)
Background: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common types of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in South Africa. Increasing evidence suggests that HPV is implicated in 99.7% of cervical cancer cases worldwide. In South Africa, the highest infection rates of HPV are found in sexually active women under the age of 25 years. The burden of cervical cancer is compounded by the high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a lack of a cervical screening programme. Risk factors include sexual debut at an early age, smoking, previous history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and multiple sexual partners. College students are often perceived as being at high risk due to peer pressure, which often leads to risky sexual behaviour. Given the high burden of HPV infection and cervical cancer deaths in South Africa, there is a need to educate and raise awareness of HPV infection and the HPV vaccine among young adults under the age of 25 years. This study was undertaken to assess the awareness, knowledge, attitude towards HPV and vaccine acceptability among the University of Johannesburg students.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 150 conveniently selected University of Johannesburg students was conducted from July to October 2017. The respondents were selected proportionally from each of the four campuses of the University of Johannesburg. A self-administered structured questionnaire was utilised to collect information on socio-demographic factors, sexual behaviour, awareness and knowledge of HPV infection as well the vaccine, the willingness to recommend HPV vaccine and preferred source of information about HPV. The Pearson Chi-square test or Fischer exact test were used comparative analysis between factors that influenced HPV awareness. Sociodemographic and behaviour characteristics of the respondents are presented in graphs, charts, frequencies, percentages and standard deviation. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors independently associated with being aware of HPV.
Results: HPV awareness was poor, with 32.7% (49) of the students reported to have heard about HPV. Of these, 38 of the students knew that HPV is the cause of cervical cancer and 66 (44%) were aware that they could be easily infected with HPV. Only 18.7% of participants knew of the HPV vaccine and 33.3% of these knew that the vaccine protected against cervical cancer. Female participants were three times more likely to be aware of HPV (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.09-7.84, p=...