Knowledge, Attitudes, and Uptake of the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine among Pharmacy Students at the University of Zambia: Opportunities to Improve Vaccine Uptake

Abstract

Introduction: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections pose a significant global health challenge, particularly among women, as high-risk HPV strains are the leading cause of cervical cancer. In Zambia, limited data exist on HPV vaccine uptake among students. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and uptake of the HPV vaccine and associated factors among female pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 247 randomly selected female pharmacy students at the University of Zambia from August to September 2024. The study involved second to fifth-year female pharmacy students, and it utilized a structured interview questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 23.0, with Fisher’s exact test used to determine associations between dependent and independent variables. Statistical significance was set at a 95% confidence level (p = 0.05). Results: Among the 247 participants, 70% demonstrated good knowledge, and 80.5% had positive attitudes towards HPV vaccination. Despite this, only 6.5% had received the vaccine while 92.3% were not vaccinated. However, 70% expressed willingness to be vaccinated. The primary reason for low uptake (19.8%) was the perceived high vaccine cost. Other factors influencing knowledge and attitudes towards HPV vaccine uptake included previous sexual experience (86.7%), age at first sexual intercourse (90.2%), number of sexual partners (85.8%), condom use (87.6%), and contraceptive use (92.7%). Conclusion: Despite high levels of knowledge and positive attitudes, HPV vaccine uptake among female pharmacy students remained low. Addressing barriers such as cost and misconceptions through targeted awareness campaigns could improve vaccine uptake. Therefore, the government and relevant stakeholders should intensify HPV vaccination awareness initiatives to enhance acceptance and coverage among students.