Knowledge about HPV vaccination among Croatian university students

Abstract Background Studies have shown the low uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among university students. Knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccine can be a factor that may sway an individual’s decision to receive the vaccine. This study aimed to investigate HPV vaccine uptake and knowledge about HPV vaccination among Croatian university students. Methods This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from February to May 2021 period. A validated, anonymous questionnaire that contained questions regarding demographic data, data about HPV vaccine uptake, and data regarding knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination was self-administered to a cross-faculty representative student sample of the University of Osijek in Eastern Croatia. Results The study sample included 840 subjects with, median age of 20 years (interquartile range 20-21), 45.8% males, and 54.2% females. The prevalence of vaccination uptake in the studied population was 20.8%. The study revealed that there were 25.6% of students with a low level of knowledge and 74.4% of students with satisfactory levels of knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination. The excellent knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination was more frequently shown by students who studied in biomedicine and health area of science (p < 0.001) and students with an excellent average grade of study (p < 0.001). HPV vaccination uptake was higher among females (p < 0.001), students who studied within biomedicine and health area of science (p < 0.001), students with an excellent average grade of study (p < 0.001), and students who showed excellent knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination (p < 0.001). Conclusions The majority of Croatian university students had a satisfactory level of knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination but the vaccination uptake is still very modest. Additional efforts are needed to organize more appropriate education and promotion of vaccine uptake in the studied population. Key messages • The HPV vaccination uptake among Croatian university students is very modest although the majority of students have a satisfactory level of knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination. • Continuous examination of HPV knowledge gaps and identification of factors influencing vaccine uptake is key to increasing vaccination rates in the Croatian university student population.


Background:
Cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most frequent cancer in women in many low-income countries.Tanzania implemented a national HPV vaccination program in 2018 using a two-dose quadrivalent HPV vaccine. This study aimed to (1) estimate financial and economic costs of a two-dose vaccination program based on experiences with the national vaccination program, (2) estimate costs of a one-dose vaccination schedule to enable future cost-effectiveness analyses, and (3) assess the effect of alternative assumptions for future vaccination coverage rates on estimated costs of vaccination.

Methods:
The WHO Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Costing (C4P) tool was used to estimate the incremental costs of the national vaccination programme from the perspective of the Tanzanian government using data collected via surveys, workshops, and interviews with local stakeholders. Deterministic sensitivity analyses were performed to estimate the effect of alternative assumptions for coverage rates and delivery strategies and to assess the impact of a potential onedose vaccination schedule.

Conclusions:
The overall cost of Tanzania's HPV vaccination program was lower per vaccinee than previous demonstration projects in the region suggest. These data provide important baseline data for Tanzania's HPV vaccination program to date and may serve as a guide for improving coverage going forward. The findings may also aid in the prioritization of funding for countries that have not yet added HPV vaccines to their routine immunizations.

Key messages:
If a single dose regimen were found to be as effective as a twodose series, it would result in significant cost savings as well as an increase in the number of girls that could be reached. School-based vaccinations resulted in the lowest price per fully immunized girl, but other settings are needed to achieve equitable high coverage of HPV vaccination in Tanzania.

Results:
The study sample included 840 subjects with, median age of 20 years (interquartile range 20-21), 45.8% males, and 54.2% females. The prevalence of vaccination uptake in the studied population was 20.8%. The study revealed that there were 25.6% of students with a low level of knowledge and 74.4% of students with satisfactory levels of knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination. The excellent knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination was more frequently shown by students who studied in biomedicine and health area of science (p < 0.001) and students with an excellent average grade of study (p < 0.001). HPV vaccination uptake was higher among females (p < 0.001), students who studied within biomedicine and health area of science (p < 0.001), students with an excellent average grade of study (p < 0.001), and students who showed excellent knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
The majority of Croatian university students had a satisfactory level of knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination but the vaccination uptake is still very modest. Additional efforts are needed to organize more appropriate education and promotion of vaccine uptake in the studied population.

Key messages:
The HPV vaccination uptake among Croatian university students is very modest although the majority of students have a satisfactory level of knowledge about the HPV virus and the vaccination. Continuous examination of HPV knowledge gaps and identification of factors influencing vaccine uptake is key to increasing vaccination rates in the Croatian university student population.