Abstract:

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus that cannot be protected by any contraceptive method. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of university students about Human Papilloma Virus and vaccine. A survey, measuring the knowledge, attitude and behavioral status of the participants to HPV and its vaccine, was applied to the university students studying in Law, Medicine and Dentistry Faculties, who accepted to participate in the research. At the end of the questionnaire, students were informed about HPV and its vaccine, and then changes in students' attitudes towards the subject were examined. The age average of the students, participating in the study, was 21.38 ± 1.98. 46.0% of the participants were medical school students, 28.5% was law school students and 25.5% was dentistry school students; 62.9% of the participants was female students. Although 20.3% of students stated that they have an active sexual life, the percentages of those who got vaccinated in this group was only 7.0%. After informing about HPV, 42.6 % of the unvaccinated participants stated that they definitely wanted to be vaccinated. When the reasons of unwillingness for vaccination were asked, the most common reasons were unnecessary and expensive (27.6% and 23.1% respectively). When the levels of knowledge about HPV were compared among the faculties, statistically significant differences were found (p<0.001). As a result of this study, it was shown that a large part of the students were not vaccinated and the level of knowledge is higher in sanitarian faculty students compared to students in other disciplines.

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