Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42832555›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Knowledge, attitudes, and prevention practices regarding human papillomavirus among health and social science female students in Northwest Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Birhanemaskal Malkamu, Abiyu Ayalew, Addisu Melake, Alemie Fentie, Ayenew Assefa, Ayenew Berhan, Birhanu Getie, Birhanu Malede, Biruk Legese, Dagnaw Mersha Tegegne and 20 more

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
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Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

30 authors.

Birhanemaskal MalkamuDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3385-7361
Abiyu AyalewDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Addisu MelakeDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Alemie FentieDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Ayenew AssefaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Ayenew BerhanDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2244-4476
Birhanu GetieDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Birhanu MaledeDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Biruk LegeseDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1315-7192
Dagnaw Mersha TegegneDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Dejen Gedamu DamtieDepartment of Social and Public health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Dessie TegegneDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3469-017X
Eninur DejenDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Fisseha Nigussie DagnewDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Gebrehiwot Berie MekonnenDepartment of Pediatric and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Getu AbejeDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Habtamu DemlashDepartment of Social and Public health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Kindie MitikuDepartment of Social and Public health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Rahel Mulatie AntenehDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Samuel Berihun DagnewDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Shewaneh DamtieDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Tadese SisayDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Teklehaimanot KirosDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Temesgen Lingerh EndalewDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Tigabu Eskeziya ZerihunDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Mulat ErkihunDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Wondimnew Desalegn AddisDepartment of Social and Public health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Yirgalem AbereDepartment of Adult health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Getaneh Atikilt YemataDepartment of Social and Public health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Mahider Shimelis FeyisaSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Asrat Woldeyes Health Sciences Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUniversity students are vital for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) prevention, yet comparative data between academic disciplines remain limited. This study compared HPV knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among female health and Social Science students at Debre Tabor University.

objectiveTo compare HPV knowledge, attitudes, and prevention practices (KAP) among female Health and Social Science students and identify sociodemographic predictors of these outcomes.

methodsDesign: Institutional-Based, comparative cross-sectional study. Setting: Debre Tabor University, Northwest Ethiopia, conducted from June to July 2025.

main outcome measuresHPV knowledge (good vs. poor), attitudes (good vs. poor), and vaccination practices (good vs. poor). Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of poor outcomes.

resultsHealth science students (HSS) reported higher awareness (83.6% vs. 56.7%) and more positive attitudes (57.3% vs. 37.6%) than Social Science students (SSS). However, both groups exhibited poor knowledge: 61.2% of HSS and 80.9% of SSS scored <50% on knowledge questions, and critically low vaccination rates (HSS: 18.2%; SSS: 15.2%). For HSS, lack of prior awareness was the strongest predictor of poor practice (AOR = 7.61, 95% CI = 1.65-35.12). For SSS, second-year students had 3.39 times higher odds of poor practice compared to seniors (AOR = 3.39; 95% CI: 1.04-10.99). SSS predominantly relied on social media (45.0%), while HSS used academic sources (67.5%).

conclusionA profound knowledge-practice gap exists regardless of the field of study. High reliance on social media among SSS and low practice among mid-level students suggest that university-based interventions could potentially contribute to national efforts, though achieving population-level targets requires multi-sectoral strategies..

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHuman Papillomavirus VirusesPapillomavirus InfectionsStudentsAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesEthiopiaFemaleHumansPapillomavirus VaccinesSocial SciencesSurveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesVaccinationYoung AdultPapillomavirus Vaccines

Identifiers

PMID42832555
PMCPMC13637910

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.