Vaccination Status and Attitude towards HPV vaccination among Private University Students uncovered under the National HPV immunization Programme, 2010 in Malaysia

Abstract

Purpose: In 2010, MOH, Malaysia initiated national HPV immunization programme to all girls aged 13 years and in 2018, extended free/subsidised HPV vaccination to all unmarried women born between1990-1996, yet little is known about the vaccination status and the attitude for acceptance of this vaccine. Methods: A cross-sectional study among private university students was conducted in Kedah state, Malaysia. The primary outcome measure was to estimate the HPV vaccination status among the study population. The secondary outcome was to assess their attitude and perception towards HPV vaccination and predict socio-demographic factors which favour HPV vaccination. Results: The overall response rate was 77% (N = 696). About 55% of the respondents reported to have received at least one HPV injection. However, their attitude and perception towards HPV infection and HPV vaccination was neutral. Nearly half of the unvaccinated respondents (46%) were intended to get vaccinated. Half of them were aware of the nation immunization program and 52% of them were aware that MOH is providing free / subsidized HPV vaccination to all unmarried women born between 1990 and 1996. The statistically significant (p < .05) socio-demographic factors predictive for vaccination were education (p = .033) and year of study (p = .005). Conclusion: Despite more than half of the respondents were vaccinated, still many of the respondents has not yet received the vaccine. A comprehensive and sustainable HPV and cervical cancer education should be incorporated into health education at schools from the early teen-ages in order to achieve the desired impact, which is to limit the spread of HPV infection, thus decreasing the risk for cervical cancer incidence and mortality.