Analysis of the perception of health students about vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i12.50449Keywords:
Human papillomavirus, Vaccination, HPV, Students, Public health.Abstract
Objective: To analyze knowledge and perception about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among health students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted between May and October 2024 with health students from different academic semesters in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected using an online structured questionnaire applied through Google Forms®. Students who agreed with the informed consent form and completed all questions were included. Descriptive statistics with absolute and relative frequencies were performed. The study was approved by a Research Ethics Committee (CAAE: 70419923.8.0000.5492). Results: A total of 104 students participated; 80.8% were between 19 and 29 years old and 93.3% were medical students. Most reported having attended lectures on HPV (57.7%), although fewer reported clinical contact with infected patients (38.5%). Complete vaccination coverage was reported by 61.5%, while 24% had not been vaccinated. All participants considered the vaccine safe, and 95.2% supported mandatory vaccination for adolescents. Gaps were identified in knowledge of viral subtypes and vaccines available in the Brazilian public health system. Conclusion: Health students demonstrated a positive perception and adequate general knowledge regarding HPV infection and vaccination. However, specific weaknesses indicate the need for continuous educational strategies during undergraduate training to improve vaccination adherence and health communication.
References
Biasio, L. R., Lorini, C., Zanobini, P., Bonaccorsi, G. (2024). The still unexplored mediating role of vaccine literacy. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 20(1):2310360.
Brasil. (2023). HPV. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde. https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/assuntos/saude-de-a-a-z/h/hpv
Bruni, L., Saura-Lázaro, A., Montoliu, A., Brotons, M., Alemany, L., Diallo, M. S. et al. (2019). HPV vaccination introduction worldwide and WHO and UNICEF estimates of national HPV immunization coverage 2010–2019. Prev Med. 144:106399.
Chau, J. P. C., Lo, S. H. S., Butt, L., Lee, V. W. Y., Lui, G. C. Y. & Lau, A. Y. L. (2023). User engagement on a novel educational health intervention aimed at increasing HPV vaccine uptake in Hong Kong: a qualitative study. J Cancer Educ. 38(3):772–80.
D’Errico, M. P., Tung, W. C., Lu, M., D’Errico, R. (2021). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to human papillomavirus vaccination among college students in a state university: implications for nurse practitioners. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 33(9):709–18.
Gilkey, M. B., Calo, W. A., Marciniak, M. W. & Brewer, N. T. (2017). Parents who refuse or delay HPV vaccine: differences in vaccination behavior, beliefs, and clinical communication preferences. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 13(3):680–6.
INCA. (2023a). Câncer do colo do útero. Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) 2025. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/inca/pt-br/assuntos/cancer/tipos/colo-do-utero
INCA. (2023b). Estimativa 2023: incidência de câncer no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA). https://www.inca.gov.br/publicacoes/livros/estimativa-2023-incidencia-de-cancer-no-brasil
Kasting, M. L., Head, K. J., DeMaria, A. L., Neuman, M. K., Russell, A. L., Robertson, S. E. et al. (2021). A national survey of obstetrician/gynecologists’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding adult human papillomavirus vaccination. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 30(10):1476–84.
Pereira, A. S. et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. (Free ebook). Santa Maria. Editora da UFSM.
Rathje, S., He, J. K., Roozenbeek, J., Van Bavel, J. J. & Van Der Linden, S. (2022). Social media behavior is associated with vaccine hesitancy. PNAS Nexus. 1(4):pgac207.
Shitsuka, R. et al. (2014). Matemática fundamental para tecnologia. (2ed). Editora Érica.
Sung, H., Ferlay, J., Siegel, R. L. et al. (2023). Global cancer statistics 2020. CA Cancer J Clin. 71(3):209–49. doi:10.3322/caac.21660. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33538338/
Wolf, J., Kist, L. F., Pereira, S. B., Quessada, M. A., Petek, H., Pille, A. et al. (2024). Human papillomavirus infection: epidemiology, biology, host interactions, cancer development, prevention, and therapeutics. Rev Med Virol. 34(3):e2537.
WHO. (2013). Transforming and Scaling Up Health Professionals' Education and Training. (2013). World Health Organization Guidelines 2013. Geneva: World Health Organization (WHO). PMID: 26042324.
WHO. (2023). Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. Geneva: World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papilloma-virus-and-cancer
WHO. (2022). Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations. Geneva: World Health Organization (WHO).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Camilla Beraldo da Silva, Débora Ribeiro Honório Ramos, Deliane Rodrigues Costa, Giovana Tasca Meira, Rebeca De França Bianchim, Patricia Ucelli Simioni
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
