NIVEL DE CONOCIMIENTO DEL VIRUS DEL PAPILOMA HUMANO Y LA APLICACIÓN DE LA VACUNA EN ESTUDIANTES DE BACHILLERATO

Abstract

The Human Papilloma Virus is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections in women and has been identified as a precursor to cervical cancer. The objective of this research is to evaluate the level of knowledge of the human papillomavirus and the application of the vaccine in high school students. The population consisted of 138 high school students from the Mejía D7 Educational Unit (Quito-Ecuador), whose sample consisted of 96 students selected through stratified sampling, to whom an instrument called "Knowledge about the human papillomavirus vaccine" was applied. This instrument collects information on 4 demographic variables and 18 true and false questions divided into two dimensions: 10 on general knowledge and 8 on vaccine administration. The results of the study show that the level of knowledge about general aspects about the HPV virus in high school students was 21.9% and in terms of knowledge about the administration of the vaccinewas 58.4%. However, the overall knowledge on the subject is 40.6%. In conclusion, the levelof knowledge about the HPV virus and the administration of its vaccine in high school students is medium-high, but there is still a large percentage of students who do not know the importance of the vaccine and how to prevent infection.