Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among medical students in Mangalore, India

Background: The highly prevalent cervical cancer can be prevented through a vaccine. However, the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine in the general population continues to be low. Medical students, as healthcare providers in the future, would be influential in affecting the community's views and thereby the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine. Hence, there is a need to promote the right attitude for prompt implementation of this vaccine among medical students. None of the studies in India have so far documented the proportion of vaccinated population among medical students or an intervention strategy to eliminate the barriers to Human Papillomavirus vaccine. Aims and objectives: To determine the proportion of vaccinated medical students and the barriers against HPV vaccination among non-vaccinated participants; and to test the efficacy of an information session on the barrier. Methodology: Data on barriers against the Human Papillomavirus vaccination was collected through a questionnaire-based survey. The barriers were reassessed after an intervention in the form of training session using audio-visual aids. Results: Out of the 263 participants, 46 (18%) had never heard of the vaccine against Human Papillomavirus and only 54 (21%) were vaccinated. Participants thought it was not essential to get vaccinated as they were not sexually active (28%). Lack of information about the vaccine (28%), its access (24%), and high cost (27%) were the other barriers. Following the information session, 59% of the previously non-vaccinated participants responded that they would get vaccinated while 34% were considering getting vaccinated. The most common reason for rejection of the vaccine post- intervention was high cost of the vaccine. Conclusion: Vaccine uptake is very low among medical students and amenable barriers exist against the vaccine. Urgent intervention in the form of information session is recommended targeted at the medical students, to eliminate the barriers of Human Papillomavirus vaccination.