EVALUATION OF UKRAINIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE REGARDING THE PREVENTION OF PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the level of Ukrainian medical students' knowledge regarding the human papillomavirus (HPV), as well as their attitude and practice regarding the prevention of HPV infection. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted among medical students in Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia in October–December 2022. A questionnaire was developed. Two hundred and fifty-two medical students took part in the survey. Descriptive statistics methods were used for data analysis. Pearson's χ2 test was used to determine if there was a significant relationship between two nominal variables. Results. The sample of respondents was represented by students aged 16–38 years, primarily female (87.3%, n = 220). Almost three-quarters (73.8%, n = 186) of all respondents indicated the need for additional information about HPV. Only 43.3% of respondents (n = 109) knew that the early onset of sexual life was a risk factor for HPV infection. Thirty-seven respondents (14.7%) correctly indicated that men who had sex with men were at increased risk of HPV infection compared to heterosexual men. Seventy-nine students (31.3%) reported that they didn't know about the existence of the HPV vaccine before taking the questionnaire. Seventy-five students (29.8%) didn't know whether vaccination against HPV infection was mandatory in Ukraine and whether it was included in the national vaccination schedule. Only 57.9% of respondents (n = 146) reported that they systematically (at least once a year) visited a gynecologist/urologist. The proportion of students who had sexual relations and visited a gynecologist/urologist was greater than the proportion of students who didn't have sexual relations and regularly visited a gynecologist/urologist (χ2 = 27.559; p < 0.00001). One hundred and forty-eight respondents (58.7%) indicated that they had sexual relations. Of them, 52.0% (n = 77) of respondents had two or more sexual partners during their lifetime. Twenty-seven respondents of those who had sex life (18.2%) had never been tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The majority of students with sexual relations (57.4%, n = 85) never demanded documentary confirmation of the absence of STIs from their sexual partners. The proportion of students vaccinated against HPV was 5.2% (n = 13 of 252). Forty-three respondents (n = 43) did not know their vaccination status and could not say with certainty whether they had been vaccinated against HPV. The other 77.8% of respondents (n = 196) indicated that they were not vaccinated against HPV infection. Among the unvaccinated students, 33.7% of respondents (n = 66) planned to get vaccinated against HPV; 21.9% of respondents (n = 43) didn't plan to be vaccinated against HPV. Conclusion. An insufficient level of knowledge of medical students regarding HPV was revealed. There is a lack of adherence of medical students to HPV vaccination. Factors of risky sexual behavior have been identified among persons who have sexual relations. It is necessary to increase the awareness of future doctors about HPV and HPV immunoprophylaxis by optimizing educational programs in medical universities and to intensify sanitary and educational work on safe sex.