Effect of HPV Education on Women's Knowledge

Overview

This interventional study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on women's knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccination, and screening. HPV is a major public health concern worldwide and a leading cause of cervical cancer. Although cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination and early screening, HPV awareness among women remains limited in Türkiye. Educational interventions are therefore essential to improve knowledge and promote preventive health behaviors. The study population consists of 110 women attending courses at the Suzan and Abdulhakim Bilgili Public Education Center in Onikişubat, Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, between August 2025 and December 2025. No formal sample size calculation was performed. Instead, 80 women who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agreed to participate were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (education) or the control group (no education). The HPV education program is delivered in two 1-hour sessions using PowerPoint presentations and informational brochures developed from current literature and reviewed by experts in women's health nursing. Data are collected before and after the educational sessions using a Personal Information Form and the HPV Knowledge Scale (HPV-KS), which measures participants' knowledge about HPV infection, vaccination, and screening. Statistical analyses will be conducted using SPSS 22.0, with descriptive statistics and inferential tests (paired-sample t-test, independent-sample t-test, repeated-measures ANOVA, and non-parametric equivalents) applied as appropriate. A p-value \< 0.05 will be considered statistically significant. It is hypothesized that women receiving HPV education will demonstrate significantly higher post-intervention knowledge scores compared to those in the control group.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a highly contagious virus that is recognized as a major public health problem both nationally and internationally due to its association with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer within the category of gynecological cancers that can be detected early through screening programs, thereby preventing its progression. It ranks fourth among the most common cancers in women and remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Globally, in 2020, there were 604,000 new cervical cancer cases and 342,000 deaths caused by cervical cancer. The World Health Organization recommends the inclusion of HPV vaccines in national immunization programs. While HPV vaccination rates are high in developed countries, there are delays in vaccine access in underdeveloped and developing countries . In Türkiye, HPV vaccination has not yet been incorporated into the national immunization program. Cervical cancer remains one of the leading health concerns worldwide in terms of mortality and morbidity rates. The high incidence, insufficient HPV screening, and low awareness of HPV indicate the widespread presence of HPV infection . Increasing public awareness, preventing disease occurrence, and implementing protective planning and educational interventions are of great importance. One of the key strategies for addressing cervical cancer is to promote HPV screening . In Türkiye, several studies have been conducted to assess the level of knowledge about HPV and its vaccine among healthcare personnel and students in health-related fields. The results of these studies have shown that participants' knowledge about HPV is not at the desired level . These studies revealed deficiencies in fundamental areas such as HPV-related infections, vaccination methods, and the effectiveness and importance of the vaccine. Such knowledge gaps may limit healthcare professionals' ability to provide effective health services and raise public awareness regarding HPV. Similarly, studies evaluating women's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about HPV and its vaccine have generally shown that women's knowledge of HPV is low Therefore, HPV education is considered highly important. Educational programs can help participants make informed decisions and protect their sexual health. The findings obtained from such programs may guide the implementation of similar initiatives for larger communities and increase awareness about HPV. These kinds of studies play a crucial role in designing preventive measures and awareness-raising programs for public health, while also contributing to the limited existing literature. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the effect of HPV education provided to women on their level of knowledge regarding human papillomavirus.