Title: Awareness of HPV among college-age urban students and their suggested primary preventive strategies to avoid the viral infections

Authors: E. William Ebomoyi; Emmanuel Osunkoya; Afolabi-Bello Morolayo; Josephine I. Ebomoyi

Addresses: Department of Health Studies College of Health Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, Illinois 60628-1598, USA ' Department of Health Studies College of Health Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, Illinois 60628-1598, USA ' Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital, Virginia, USA ' Department of Biological Sciences, Saint Xavier University, Chicago, USA

Abstract: A survey of students was undertaken to assess the knowledge of college-age urban students about HPV in Chicago, Illinois, and to compare the knowledge of male students to that of their female counterpart. We also compared the knowledge of those students from urban areas to other students who reside in rural communities. We also elicited from the respondents their suggested primary preventive strategies to enable them to avoid HPV infection. Those students who enrolled in the study who were quite knowledgeable about HPV were 299 (68%) of the entire respondents. The knowledge of HPV by gender was statistically significant. Statistically significant difference in knowledge was also observed between age groups and knowledge about HPV (F = 6.845, P < 0.001). The research team therefore recommended that interdisciplinary undergraduate course focusing on issues in health was recommended for undergraduate students.

Keywords: HPV awareness; human papilloma virus; college-age students; sexually transmitted diseases; STD; primary preventive strategies; viral infections; abstinence relevance; faithful relationships; monogamous relationships; USA; United States; gender; urban areas; rural communities; higher education; interdisciplinary courses; undergraduate courses; health issues.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMEI.2015.072328

International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics, 2015 Vol.7 No.4, pp.313 - 320

Published online: 09 Oct 2015 *

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