Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
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Project No. 253 (2009)Knowledge, attitude <strong>and</strong> practice toward HPV infection, immunization <strong>and</strong>cervical cancer among high school female students in Al Ain, UAEStudent Authors: Noura Saif Rashed Al Nuaimi, Yusra Salem Ahmed Al-Ghas, AsmaHadef Rashid Al OwaisFaculty Supervisors: Dr. M. Grivna, Dr. J. Schneider, Dr. R. BernsenAbstract:Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in the UAE; thehealth authority is trying to reduce its incidence by implementing the cervical cancervaccine program, which is targeting 17 year old girls. Almost 6,000 girls wereinoculated in 2008, <strong>and</strong> a further 4,000 have received the first dose <strong>of</strong> the vaccine thisyear (1). It is important to educate the general population about Human PapillomaVirus (HPV) <strong>and</strong> its vaccine so that they can decide about receiving the vaccine.Participants from girls’ high schools from Al Ain were surveyed to determine theirknowledge about HPV <strong>and</strong> the HPV vaccine, <strong>and</strong> to evaluate their attitude <strong>and</strong> practiceregarding the vaccine.Methods: A cross sectional study involved 5 schools selected r<strong>and</strong>omly from Al Aincity. The study population consisted <strong>of</strong> female students in grades 11 <strong>and</strong> 12 who were<strong>of</strong>fered the HPV vaccine in both public <strong>and</strong> private schools. The study was conductedfrom 12th April to 7th May <strong>of</strong> 2009. Data was collected through self administeredquestionnaires, <strong>and</strong> was analyzed by SPSS.Results: We are reporting data <strong>of</strong> 334 students regarding knowledge, attitude <strong>and</strong>practice. Knowledge: 58% <strong>of</strong> the students have heard <strong>of</strong> HPV, 16% heard <strong>of</strong> genitalwarts, 59% heard <strong>of</strong> HPV vaccine, 94% heard <strong>of</strong> cervical cancer, 22% knew that HPVis transmitted through sexual contact, 22% knew that cervical cancer is caused by aviral infection, <strong>and</strong> 37% knew that HPV vaccine reduces the risk <strong>of</strong> cervical cancer.Attitude: 70% were worried about having genital warts in the future, 76% wereworried about having cervical cancer in the future. Practice: 53.3% (178) received thevaccine, 46.7% (156) did not receive the vaccine.Conclusion: The data show that the target population <strong>of</strong> the vaccine in the UAE haspoor knowledge about HPV, cervical cancer, <strong>and</strong> the efficacy <strong>of</strong> the vaccine. This haslead to the poor uptake <strong>of</strong> the vaccine among high school girls.
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