Awareness level of human papilloma virus in healthcare workers

Cervical cancer is a problem that threatens women in Turkey and all over the world. According to the data of the World Health Organization, approximately 600000 new cases are reported every year, and it is seen as the 3rd most mortal cancer in women over the age of 15. Considering the pathogenesis of the disease, it has been observed that approximately 95% of the human papilloma virus is present. Human Papillomavirus is also largely responsible for cancers of the oropharyngeal and anogenital region in both sexes. It has been shown that the virus is most commonly transmitted by sexual contact. In this context, sexually active women and men are infected with HPV at a high rate of 80% at some point in their lives. The virus is recognized late by the immune system due to reasons such as escape mechanisms from the host and low viremia. Therefore, the host response develops late and immunity occurs late. This situation can be shown as the cause of the virus, which escapes immunity for a long time, to give clinical signs after years. HPV vaccines aim to introduce the virus to the host's immune system to prevent delayed response of the host system. The vaccine, which mimics the capsid protein of the virus, introduces certain HPV types to the host. For this purpose, three HPV vaccines were introduced to the market. There are three types of vaccines available on the market, according to the HPV subtypes they contain, as bivalent, quadrivalent and nonvalent. Vaccinations are recommended for both male and female genders. Vaccines are administered as 2 doses between the ages of 9-14 (at least 6 months between two doses), and as 3 doses at the age of 15 and above. Between doses should not be kept longer than 12-15 months. In our study, we aimed to see the knowledge level and attitudes and behaviors of the vaccine, which is of great importance for both genders but is not in our national vaccination program. Our study was conducted with a total of 253 participants, 24.5% (n=62) male and 75.5% (n=191) female, who were between the ages of 18 and 65, working in Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Medical Faculty Hospital. An online survey was conducted with everyone who agreed to participate in the study. Those younger than 18 and older than 65, those working outside the health sector and non-volunteers were not included in the study. The demographic data of the people participating in our study, their knowledge about the HPV virus and cervical cancer, and their knowledge and attitudes about the HPV vaccine were asked. When the results obtained from the study were examined, it was seen that the demographic data did not show a significant difference according to the HPV vaccination status, the vaccination rate of the participants who regularly went to the health checkups was higher than the group that did not go to the regular checkups, and the level of knowledge about the infection of the participants who had HPV vaccination was higher than the participants who were not vaccinated. Therefore, improving HPV vaccine knowledge, attitudes and behaviors will increase the acceptability and application of the vaccine.