Knowledge and Uptake of Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine among Female Undergraduate Students in North-Central, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is the most effective measure against HPV infection. Therefore, the study aimed at assessing knowledge and uptake of HPV vaccine among female undergraduates in North-Central, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional research design was conducted from March-April 2023 among female undergraduate students and a convenience sampling technique was used to select 380 respondents for the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 26. Chi-square test was used to test the association between sociodemographic variables, knowledge, and uptake of HPV vaccine. Prediction of uptake of HPV vaccine according to sociodemographic variables and knowledge was done using binary logistic regression test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Most of the respondents were between 20 and 25 years and were sexually inactive. The results shows that most of the respondents (68.2%) had low knowledge, and only 15% had received the HPV vaccine; of them, 7.6% had completed the doses of the HPV vaccine. Age 20-25 years (β=0.865, P=0.003), 3^rd year (β=0.520, P<0.001) and 4^th year (β=0.005, P<0.001) of study, sexual activity (β=0.545, P<0.001), multiple sexual partners as 3-4 partners (β=2.454, P<0.001) and 5-6 partners (β=0.576, P<0.001), prior STIs history (β=0.545, P=0.035), and low knowledge level (β=0.362, P<0.001) were predictors of HPV vaccine uptake.

Conclusion: Understanding predictor factors of HPV vaccination uptake can help to design better public health interventions to improve HPV vaccine coverage among female undergraduate students in Nigeria.