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@article{183799,
        author = {Amrutha J A, Sebin S Varghese and Drishya L and Shaiju S Dharan},
        title = {Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Vaccination For HPV Among Young Adults and Parents in South India: A Cross-Sectional Study},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {3},
        pages = {2994-3000},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=183799},
        abstract = {Background: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Persistent infection with high-risk strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause, and preventive measures such as HPV vaccination and screening play a crucial role in reducing incidence. Despite global initiatives, low vaccine uptake and poor awareness continue to hinder prevention efforts.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of young adults and parents in Kerala regarding cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 110 participants aged 20–35 years in Kerala, India, using a validated self-structured questionnaire. Data on demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward HPV vaccination were collected. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation were employed to analyze associations between demographic factors and KAP.
Results: Among the participants, 49.1% demonstrated good knowledge, 29.1% had average knowledge, and 21.8% had poor knowledge. Attitudes toward HPV vaccination were predominantly positive, with 85.5% showing good attitudes, while only 3.6% exhibited poor attitudes. In contrast, vaccination practices were suboptimal—26.4% demonstrated good practice, 25.5% average practice, and 48.2% poor practice. Statistically significant associations were observed between age and attitude (p = 0.001) and between marital status and attitude (p = 0.013). Correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.224, p = 0.018), knowledge and practice (r = 0.221, p = 0.021), and attitude and practice (r = 0.393, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings highlight a substantial gap between positive attitudes toward HPV vaccination and actual preventive practices. While awareness levels were moderate and attitudes favorable, poor vaccination practices remain a concern. Targeted awareness campaigns, government-led vaccination programs, and community-based interventions are essential to bridge this gap and enhance HPV vaccine uptake, ultimately reducing the cervical cancer burden in India.},
        keywords = {HPV vaccine, human papilloma virus, cervical cancer},
        month = {August},
        }