DR. SRINIVASAN S,DR. NISHA B,DR. SARAVANAN
DOI: https://doi.org/Background:
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major public health concern, particularly for adolescent girls, as persistent HPV infection is a well-established risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, awareness and acceptance of the HPV vaccine remain suboptimal in many parts of India, including Tamil Nadu. Health education interventions have proven to be an effective strategy in improving knowledge and shaping positive attitudes toward HPV vaccination.
Objectives:
The primary aim of this study was twofold. First, it sought to assess the baseline knowledge and attitudes of adolescent school girls regarding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Understanding the initial level of awareness and perceptions among this group was crucial to identifying existing gaps and misconceptions. Secondly, the study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured health education intervention in enhancing their knowledge and positively influencing their attitudes toward HPV vaccination. By comparing pre- and post-intervention responses, the study intended to determine the impact of targeted educational efforts in promoting HPV vaccine awareness and acceptance among adolescent girls in the school setting.
Methods:
A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 128 adolescent school girls in Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Baseline data regarding knowledge and attitude towards HPV infection and vaccination were collected using a validated, self-administered structured questionnaire. A health education session was conducted, followed by a post-intervention assessment after two weeks using the same questionnaire. Data were entered and analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS software. McNemar’s test was used to evaluate changes in categorical variables pre- and post-intervention, while ANOVA was applied to assess changes in mean knowledge and attitude scores.
Results:
The intervention led to a statistically significant improvement in both knowledge and attitude scores regarding HPV vaccination among the participants (p < 0.05). The findings indicated that health education can be an effective strategy to improve awareness and vaccine acceptability in adolescent populations.
Conclusion:
Health education interventions play a critical role in increasing awareness about HPV infection and vaccination among adolescent girls, potentially contributing to higher vaccine uptake and a reduction in the future incidence of cervical cancer in the community.
