Awareness and Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection and Vaccine Among Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background This study evaluated the comprehension and awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and vaccination among women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study included 696 female respondents from Jeddah between the ages of 18 and 60. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained before administering the questionnaire through social media. The data collected included social demographic information and information about HPV and vaccination. Results According to the results, only 332 respondents (47.70%) demonstrated good knowledge about HPV. Less than half (47.84%) were aware of the HPV vaccine. However, a slightly higher percentage (53.02%) would be willing to receive the vaccination if it were free. Individuals who were not willing to accept the vaccine believed it had side effects (25.70%), was unsafe (19.92%), or was unnecessary as HPV was a rare infection (17.55%). Demographic variables, such as educational level and occupation, were found to be predictors of HPV knowledge since their corresponding p-values were statistically significant. Conclusion It is crucial to raise awareness about HPV and its vaccine among adult women in Jeddah due to the alarmingly low levels of knowledge and awareness. The importance of HPV vaccination must be emphasized repeatedly to ensure that this critical information is understood and acted upon. Overall, there is low knowledge and awareness about HPV and its vaccine among adult women in Jeddah. Therefore, it is imperative to increase awareness while reiterating the importance of HPV vaccination.