Knowledge regarding Human Papillomavirus Infection among female students in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Introduction: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is a significant public health issue, particularly among young women who are at risk of developing related complications. These complications can include cervical cancer, genital warts, and other serious health problems that can have long-term effects. Therefore, understanding the level of knowledge about HPV and its transmission is essential for developing targeted educational and preventive strategies to mitigate these risks. Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge regarding HPV infection among female Advanced-Level students in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 439 voluntarily consenting female Advanced-Level students in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and were analysed using descriptive statistics via IBM SPSS version 25. The total knowledge scores ranged from 0-10 and categorised according to the Bloom’s cutoff as follows: high knowledge (80%-100%), moderate knowledge (60%-79%) and low knowledge (<59%). The ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee of KIU (KIU/ERC/22/083). Results: Of the 439 participants, the majority of the participants were 18 years (98.4%, n=432) and Buddhists (87.47%, n=384). Nearly half of the participants (54.90%, n=241) have not heard of HPV infection. The majority of the participants (81.32%, n=357) did not know the mode of transmission of HPV and their main source of information was parents (28.02%, n=123). The total mean knowledge score was 1.16±1.56 whilst most of the participants (98.63%, n=433) had low level of knowledge regarding HPV infection and only 6 (1.37%) participants had moderate knowledge whilst none of them had high level of knowledge. Conclusion: The study concludes with a low level of knowledge regarding HPV infection among female students in Sri Lanka. The study findings highlight the current knowledge levels, which emphasize the importance of monitoring and evaluating the impact of educational programs over time.