| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 3 | Page : 178-185 |
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Knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and attitude toward HPV vaccination among female undergraduate physiotherapy students in Belgaum, Karnataka
Renu Pattanshetty, Nikita Pawar
Department of Oncology Physiotherapy, KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Nikita Pawar
Department of Oncology Physiotherapy, KAHER Institute of Physiotherapy, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi - 590 010, Karnataka
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jdrntruhs.jdrntruhs_56_21
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Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality representing 7.5% of all female cancer deaths. In India, it is the second most frequent cancer among women and it usually occurs between 15 and 44 years of age. The key to prevent this cancer is early detection. Hence, awareness regarding cervical cancer and screening measures for cervical cancer should be spread widely in the community. This study was taken up to evaluate the knowledge of the symptoms, risk factors, and preventive measures for cervical cancer among undergraduate female physiotherapy students.
Methods: This observational study was carried out over a period of 3 months among 154 female undergraduate physiotherapy students in Belagavi city, Karnataka, India. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was provided to evaluate their basic knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version. 23.
Results: Knowledge regarding having multiple sexual partners as one of the risk factors for cervical cancer was the commonest among the undergraduate students (76.6%) and least for early menarche (24%). HPV vaccination as a preventive measure was known by only 20% of students. Only 9.7% knew the appropriate age to get vaccinated.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the undergraduate students had poor knowledge and awareness regarding risk factors for cervical cancer, human papillomavirus and its vaccination.
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