Knowledge of HPV-Associated Head and Neck and Oral Cancers Among Health Care Students in Mexico

Urias-Barreras, Cynthia M.; Rendón-Maldonado, José G.; Camacho-Peinado, Denisse A.; Padilla Hermosillo, Arturo M.; Villalobos-Rodelo, Juan J.; Rodríguez-Archilla, Alberto

doi:10.15517/69hsn644

Authors

Cynthia M. Urias-Barreras Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Department of Stomatology, Oral Medicine Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2191-9126
José Guadalupe Rendón-Maldonado Posgrado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9823-6913
Denisse A. Camacho-Peinado Facultad de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3805-3373
Arturo M. Padilla Hermosillo Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6321-7472
Juan J. Villalobos-Rodelo Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Departamento de Epidemiología, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2693-6144
Alberto Rodríguez-Archilla Department of Stomatology, Oral Medicine Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1023-943X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15517/69hsn644

Keywords:

Human papillomavirus viruses; Knowledge; Students, medical; Students, health occupations.

Abstract

To assess the knowledge of students in health care-related programs at a public university in Mexico regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) and its association with head and neck and oral cancers. An institution-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using bivariate and multivariate analyses. A representative sample of 323 students completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, sexual history, and knowledge of HPV, HPV-related cancers, and the HPV vaccine. Participants were aged 18-36 years; 210 (65.0%) were female and 113 (35.0%) male. Regarding sexual activity, 37.8% had become sexually active at or before age 18, 33.7% thereafter, and 28.5% remained sexually inactive. Over 90% of students were aware that HPV causes cervical cancer, while 63.5% recognized its role in head and neck cancer and 79.5% its association with oral cancer. Overall, 57.6% had been vaccinated against HPV, and 90.4% were willing to receive the vaccine. Awareness that HPV causes cervical cancer increased recognition of its association with head and neck (OR=6.86, p<0.01; adjOR=5.12, p=0.02) and oral (OR=12.36, p<0.01; adjOR=15.15, p<0.01) cancers. However, willingness to receive the HPV vaccine did not translate into knowledge of HPV’s role in head and neck (OR=0.16, p<0.01; adjOR=0.15, p=0.04) or oral (OR=0.11, p=0.01; adjOR=0.05, p=0.03) cancer. Raising knowledge of HPV’s role in head and neck and oral cancers offers an opportunity to boost vaccination uptake and prevent HPV- related disease.

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