Knowledge about vaccination against HPV in medical students in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

In Brazil, more than 12 million women are diagnosed with precancerous cervical lesions according to the Group of Infections and Epidemiology of Cancer (IARC's). This disease that removes women from their daily routines and can lead to death is avoided through vaccines. It is imminent that health professionals are prepared to contribute to the alleviation of these alarming numbers. The evidence that prevention is within the reach of each individual motivated the research regarding the vaccine situation in medical academics in Rio de Janeiro. A brief bibliographic survey of similar research in the country found that a large proportion of those surveyed did not take the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. This work joins with previous results and corroborates with a scenario of disinformation and lack of prevention by academics and health professionals. The research material consisted of a questionnaire answered by 390 academics, with average age of 26 years, in order to assess the status of vaccination against HPV. It is an integrative, exploratory-descriptive review with a qualitative approach. The results showed that 79% of the students were not vaccinated against HPV. This study directs the University to raise awareness about the danger of contracting HPV and the potential risk of developing cancer. From the results, will be established preventive campaign forms at the University to spread the importance of reducing the incidence of HPV and make future medical multipliers of these actions.