Knowledge about human papillomavirus and the human papillomavirus vaccine in Belgian students

The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge of Belgian university students about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV-vaccination.

During a period of two months we administered an online questionnaire, which contained 29 questions, to 3332 students of the Free University of Brussels. Of the 433 completed questionnaires, 346 were included by age (18-30 years) and completeness of responded questionnaires. These formed the study group.

Of the 346 included questionnaires (76% female), 48% were completed by medical students. The majority (65%) knew that both genders could be infected with HPV. Ninety-five percent of all medical students were aware of the existence of HPV, while 92% knew of the possibility to be vaccinated against the virus. Ninety percent of them were aware of the causal relationship between HPV infection and cervical cancer. 46% of the medical students were aware that HPV can cause anogenital cancers, and only 28% knew that HPV-vaccination could protect them against genital warts. Sixty percent of all female students were fully vaccinated against HPV, without any difference between medical and non-medical students. A very small part of all students (3%) believed that vaccination against HPV could enhance a promiscuous lifestyle.

Almost 80% of respondents were aware of the existence of the human papillomavirus, its morbid potential and the HPV-vaccination.