Awareness about Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccine among Undergraduate College Students in Purba Barddhaman District, West Bengal: A Cross-Sectional StudyVelentur

Datta, Mohini; Roy, Sima; Das, Sulagna; Taraphdar, Pranita; Bhuin, Subhendu

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.6.2185

Awareness about Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccine among Undergraduate College Students in Purba Barddhaman District, West Bengal: A Cross-Sectional StudyVelentur

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

Department of Community Medicine, Burdwan Medical College, West Bengal, India.

10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.6.2185

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) plays a definite role in its causation. This study was conducted to assess the level of awareness about cervical cancer and HPV vaccine among urban and rural undergraduate college students in Purba Barddhaman District, West Bengal. Methods: The study was conducted among 420 undergraduate students in two co-educational colleges, one urban and one rural. The data was collected using pre-designed pre-tested open-ended questionnaire and analysed using SPSS (version 23.0). A Chi square test and multiple logistic regression analysis was done to assess the association between variables of interest. Result: Majority of the study subjects,53.8%, were males from urban college and females,52.8%, from rural college and the mean age was 20.09±2.53 and 19.91±2.24 years in urban and rural college respectively. Regarding the knowledge of cervical cancer, only 33.3% from urban and 28.9% from rural college had heard about cervical cancer and 19.5% from urban and 16.1% from rural college had knowledge about its prevention. Regarding HPV infection, 21.3% from urban and 23.3% from rural college had heard about HPV with 13.8% from urban and 12.7% from rural college had heard about the HPV vaccine. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that gender retained its statistical significance with risk factors (p=0.007), signs and symptoms (p=0.007) and modes of prevention (p=0.012) of cervical cancer in urban college. In rural college gender was statistically significant with risk factors (p=0.019) and mother’s occupation was statistically significant with risk factors (p=0.011) and signs and symptoms (p=0.004) of cervical cancer. Conclusion: Only one-third of the study population had knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV vaccine. Generation of widespread awareness through community participation, mass media involvement and health education is need of the hour.

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