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Validation of HPV Knowledge Tool and Assessment of HPV Knowledge and Awareness among Students and Staff at IBB University, Niger State, Nigeria: Implications for Health Education and Prevention
Ogbolu, M.O.; Kozlovszky, M. Assessment of HPV Knowledge and Awareness among Students and Staff at IBB University, Niger State, Nigeria: Implications for Health Education and Prevention. Healthcare2024, 12, 665.
Ogbolu, M.O.; Kozlovszky, M. Assessment of HPV Knowledge and Awareness among Students and Staff at IBB University, Niger State, Nigeria: Implications for Health Education and Prevention. Healthcare 2024, 12, 665.
Ogbolu, M.O.; Kozlovszky, M. Assessment of HPV Knowledge and Awareness among Students and Staff at IBB University, Niger State, Nigeria: Implications for Health Education and Prevention. Healthcare2024, 12, 665.
Ogbolu, M.O.; Kozlovszky, M. Assessment of HPV Knowledge and Awareness among Students and Staff at IBB University, Niger State, Nigeria: Implications for Health Education and Prevention. Healthcare 2024, 12, 665.
Abstract
In Nigeria, Cervical cancer (CC) and lack of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) awareness poses significant HPV infection risk among women. This study was conducted at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University in Nigeria; focused on assessing HPV awareness and knowledge, particularly concerning its association with CC and oral contraceptive (OC) pills among students and staff. We adapted and validated a 20-item HPV knowledge scale and explored factors influencing knowledge, vaccination rates, awareness, and the impact of ethnicity on HPV knowledge. Also, due to the non-normality of the knowledge score, non-parametric tests were done. Data were summarized using median and interquartile range (IQR), while categorical data were presented in frequency and percentage distribution. We established the reliability of the 20-item knowledge scale with a strong Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.913, indicating internal consistency. However, it revealed a concerning lack of awareness and knowledge about HPV, only 34.8% of participants were aware of HPV infection, and only 25.0% knew about HPV vaccine. Additionally, ethnicity was identified as a significant factor affecting HPV knowledge. Considering these findings, this study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to enhance HPV awareness and knowledge, particularly among specific ethnic groups. Despite the development and validation of a reliable knowledge scale, the study underscores the importance of educational initiatives to address this knowledge gap, ultimately reducing the risk of HPV infection and CC in Nigeria.
Keywords
Cervical cancer; HPV knowledge; Awareness of HPV infection; Awareness of HPV vaccine; Scale validation; Quantile regression
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
