Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards Human Papilloma Virus among Females in Saudi Arabia

Background: Human Papilloma virus (HPV) (Cervical growth) has overall central dissemination and is observed second most elevated recurrence in females after breast malignancy in a decade ago among developing countries. The severity of disease is related to society attitude, practices and its knowledge.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate and document the influence of Human papillomavirus on adolescent females about prevalent informations, knowledge, attitude and practices.

Place and Duration of Study: This cross sectional comparative study was conducted comprising 2675 participants from different colleges at Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia during January, 2015 to May, 2015.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed to collect information on knowledge and attitude of participants. The enrolled participants were solicited to answer the questions of questionnaire about HPV. HPV information assessment forms were used by examination of the related literature by the investigators. Univariate, bivariate and logistic regression were conducted with significance level at p<.05.

Results: The overall knowledge based attributes were answered wrong by participants showing a lack of knowledge about HPV regarding infection, transmission, prevention and vaccination while approximately half of attitude and practice best questions were scored correct by participants. Regarding knowledge among variables, marital status and colleges were found to be significantly correlated with HPV progression (ᵪ2=13.9; p=0.008), treatment (ᵪ2=8.3, p=0.001) respectively. Marital status showed significant association of good attitude with partner marriage (ᵪ2=14.4; p=0.006) and living (ᵪ2=17.4; p=0.008) together. Logistic regression with the whole sample found that previous knowledge about HPV, HPV infection without medical treatment, mode of transmission associated with participants augmented attitude towards HPV.

Conclusions: In our study, it was observed that adult female students who constituted our study group had lacking information and knowledge about HPV and infection. Verbal, written and visual communication tools and internet should be used intensively and efficiently for the objective of HPV knowledge and teaching the precautions related with prevention of cervix cancer in terms of society health. Primarily family physicians who offer service for the adult age group should be supported to develop appropriate attitudes and behaviors related with HPV knowledge, attitude and infection.