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ABSTRACT
Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a significant global health issue responsible for several life-threatening diseases like cervical cancer, vulva cancer, penile cancer etc. It disproportionately affects young women in whom it causes cervical cancer – the worst and most common sequalae of the infection. Safe sexual practices and HPV vaccine are the main protectives measures against the infection, the latter being more emphasized globally as the best means to get protected against the infection and its associated diseases. Objectives: This study sought to assess the knowledge and practice regarding HPV infection, evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and uptake regarding HPV vaccination, and determine the reasons for vaccination status among mid-level female undergraduates of the University of Benin. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling method. Respondents were selected across all faculties in UNIBEN and data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 25.0. The study was carried out between 2021 and 2023. Result: Four hundred and four mid-level female undergraduates participated in this study. The mean age of the respondents was 21.00 ± 1.98 years. Two hundred and seventy-six (68.9%) had had sex and the mean age of sexual debut was 16.87±3.6 years, 137 (49.6%) had 1 – 2 sexual partners and 182 (65.9%) had ever used a condom. Only 157 (39.0%) and 103 (25.0%) of the students had good knowledge of HPV infection and HPV vaccines respectively. While 137 (34.0%) had a positive attitude towards HPV vaccination, only 7 (1.7%) had received at least one dose of the vaccine. Bioscience course, increase in the age and class were associated with better knowledge of HPV infection. These associations were also observed in knowledge of HPV vaccination. Conclusion: The findings showed an overall poor knowledge of HPV infection and vaccination. Vaccine uptake was very low. Attitude towards HPV vaccination was poor. Increased awareness and addressing identified barriers to vaccination are possible solutions to these problems. Key words: Human papillomavirus, infection, vaccine, undergraduates.
