Frecuencia y aceptabilidad de la vacuna contra el Virus de Papiloma Humano en estudiantes de primer año de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad de Cuenca, 2022

Abstract

Background: Human papillomavirus infection is one of the main causes of malignant neoplasms, such as cervical, anogenital and oropharyngeal. The HPV vaccine was introduced in 2006 in Australia, United Kingdom, United States and Canada, with the aim of preventing and reducing the prevalence of cervical cancer. In Ecuador it was introduced in 2015. Objective: To determine the frequency and acceptability of the vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus in students of the first year of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Cuenca, in 2022. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional approach study. The study universe was 499 students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Cuenca; the sample was 228 female students; the survey technique was applied through a data collection sheet. Results: 86% of the participants were between 18 and 19 years old. 74.6% live in urban areas. 99.1% were single. 76.3% were Catholic and 45.2% study medicine. 37.3% of the mothers have a higher educational level, and 45.6% of the fathers have secondary education. 43.0% of the students received the complete vaccine scheme, 28.1% incomplete and 28.9% were not vaccinated. 96.5% have a medium level of knowledge and 73.7% a high acceptability of the vaccine. Conclusions: The level of acceptability of the HPV vaccine is encouraging, although we must emphasize its promotion to increase the level of knowledge.