Knowledge, Acceptance, And Uptake Of Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Among Male And Female Medical Allied Health Students In The College Of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Abstract:

The cause of over 99% cases of cervical cancer is the Human Papilloma Virus. This can be transmitted through different kinds of sexual intercourse, skin to skin contact, however, protective devices like condoms and dental dams are not known to provide total protection against it but can reduce the risk of transmission. This virus with over 200 strains causes a range of cancers and can affect both men and women, causing penile cancer in men amongst others, although, only the strains 16&18 are responsible for cervical cancer development.In 2006, the US food and drug agency (FDA) licensed the first HPV vaccine. Early 2021, Nigeria proposed the introduction to HPV vaccine as part of the routine national immunization by rolling out both the vaccine and awareness simultaneously at communities which might not be the best approach as awareness should proceed provision in order to achieve acceptance and uptake, this has not been implemented. About 74% of 14 million new cases of HPV infection yearly occur in young men and women between the ages of 15-24 which makes university students at high risk as the majority are between the ages of 18-24 years. Studies in Nigeria has shown that, less than 18%-36% of university students had ever heard of HPV infection and vaccine.