Human papillomavirus vaccination: knowledge, acceptance, and barriers among medical students. An Egyptian multicenter...

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major public health concern and a leading cause of cervical cancer worldwide. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, awareness and vaccine acceptance remain limited in many developing countries. This study aimed to assess awareness, acceptance, barriers, and determinants of HPV vaccination among medical students in Egypt. A web-based multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students from governmental, national, and private medical faculties across Egypt using a non-probability sampling approach (convenience and snowball sampling). Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire. A total of 601 students participated in the study. 31.4% were unaware that HPV is available for both males and females, and half of them expressed negative attitudes and concerns regarding the novelty (44%), safety (56%), efficacy (59%), and cost of the vaccine (51.7%). Nearly half (48.3%) of them were unaware that the "HPV vaccine" is available in Egypt. Seventy-three students (12.1%) received the vaccine, and among vaccinated participants, 39 were males. In addition, 44.3% of students reported hesitancy toward HPV vaccination, while 58.9% indicated willingness to receive the vaccine if it was provided free of charge. Family history of cervical cancer, total knowledge, and attitude scores were significant predictors of participants' HPV vaccine uptake (p < 0.05). Nearly half of the participants had not taken the vaccine because they were not sexually active or they lacked knowledge. Unfortunately, about one-third of the participants didn't take the vaccine because of cultural and parental objections. Male participants were less likely to recommend the vaccine to others. In spite of being medical students, their knowledge and attitudes were less than expected, giving an idea about the public situation. Findings underscore the importance of educational campaigns to raise knowledge and change faulty beliefs, focusing on the target groups and their parents. Also, the national health authorities should allocate resources to make the HPV vaccine available, accessible, and affordable.