Knowledge and Attitude of Midwifery Students toward Human Papilloma Virus Infection and Cervical Cancer at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most important causes of cervical cancer. It is essential to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of people about HPV infection in the community, especially among midwifery students who will act as health professionals in the society. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of midwifery students toward HPV infection and cervical cancer.

This cross-sectional study was done on midwifery students at Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz (Iran) in 2019. 141 midwifery students were recruited through census. The knowledge and attitude of 112 eligible midwifery students toward HPV infection were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed. Data were analyzed in SPSS16 using the chi-square test and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient at statistical significance of 0.05.

Mean age of midwifery students was 21.6±2.4 years. Of 112 students, only 38 (33%) had desirable knowledge about HPV infection. The majority of students (77.7%) had a positive attitude towards HPV infection. The knowledge and attitude of midwifery students in different academic years did not differ significantly (P>0.05).

There is insufficient knowledge about HPV infection and cervical cancer prevention among midwifery students at the Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz. Therefore, it is recommended to incorporate HPV-related educational programs in order to increase students' awareness.