Knowledge of cervical cancer, HPV infection and vaccine in nursing students, nursing staff and female hospital workers in a tertiary care centre of North India.

Abstract

Human Papilloma virus is one of the most common and dangerous sexually transmitted disease which affects around 50-80 % of women of reproductive age group. HPV is associated with a number of diseases like vaginal warts, anal warts, premalignant and malignant lesions of cervix. Present study is undertaken to assess the knowledge of cervical cancer screening, HPV infections, and HPV vaccination in nursing students, nursing staff and female hospital workers. A total of 110 nursing students, 80 nurses and 70 group D female workers were interviewed. Most of the nursing students had adequate knowledge about cervical cancer and screening followed by Staff nurses. Knowledge of HPV infection and vaccine is adequate in3/4 th of the nursing students and nursing staff. Female workers had inadequate knowledge of cervical cancer and screening and negligible knowledge of HPV infection and vaccine. We concluded that Healthcare employees should be involved in all the cervical cancer awareness programs initiated by hospital. If properly informed Hospital staff could be a useful link for spreading information from heath care systems to general public.