Kiến thức, thái độ, thực hành tiêm phòng HPV của nữ sinh viên tại Trường Đại học Y Dược Thái Nguyên năm 2025

Cervical cancer remains a significant global health burden, primarily caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, posing a serious threat to women's health, particularly in developing countries like Vietnam. HPV vaccination is recognized as a highly effective public health intervention for preventing cervical cancer and related diseases. Despite its proven efficacy and success in many countries, the uptake of HPV vaccination in Vietnam faces challenges, including limited public awareness and the high cost of the vaccine. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HPV vaccination among female students at Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2025, providing crucial insights for improving preventive strategies.

Public health professionals, policymakers, healthcare educators, and female university students concerned with HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention.

Cervical cancer, largely caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, continues to be a major health concern globally and in Vietnam, affecting women aged 15-44 significantly. HPV vaccination is a critical strategy for mitigating this burden, with successful outcomes observed in several countries. However, existing research in Vietnam indicates varying levels of awareness and practice, often hampered by factors like vaccine cost and regional disparities. This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning HPV vaccination among 370 female students at Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy using structured questionnaires and surveys. The findings revealed that a substantial proportion of students possessed correct knowledge (64.1%) and positive attitudes (72.7%) towards HPV vaccination. However, the actual practice rate remained relatively low, with only 35.7% having received the vaccine, and 28.2% completing the full three-dose regimen. The study identified a significant association between practice and students' knowledge and attitudes, indicating that those with better KAP were more likely to get vaccinated. Furthermore, ethnicity played a role, with Kinh students showing higher vaccination rates compared to Tay and other ethnic groups. Crucially, the primary barrier cited for non-vaccination was the high cost of the vaccine. These results highlight a critical gap between positive perceptions and actual preventive behavior. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted communication and educational campaigns. These efforts should focus on enhancing awareness of HPV vaccine benefits and addressing cost concerns, particularly in remote areas and among ethnic minority groups, to improve vaccination uptake and ultimately strengthen cervical cancer prevention programs in Vietnam.