The current status of cervical cancer awareness and HPV Vaccination among rural women of India: An impediment to the WHO cervical cancer elimination initiative

• DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_244_24
• Publication Date: 2025-04-04T00:05:04Z
• Authors: Lajya Devi Goyal; Priyanka Garg; Ankita Kankaria; Navdeep Kaur
• Keywords: Cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: Cervical cancer screening and the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination rates are low in India, with widespread socio-economic disparities inadequate awareness about symptoms, risk factors, available preventive methods. The problem is more concerning rural areas. So, present study aimed to precisely assess of women (18–65 years) residing areas regarding cervical vaccines. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional was conducted three districts Punjab 2021 included 600 participants through a multistage random sampling technique. Data were collected using pretested semistructured questionnaire. Awareness assessed comprehensive scoring system. Descriptive statistics Bivariate analyses used results. Results: Ninety percent had heard cancer, but only 1.8% knowledge. About 55.5% not ready for screening, most (34.2%) confident they would have their lifetime. Only 5.3% vaccine, very few (0.5%) vaccinated. commonly cited reasons lack knowledge (90.1%) high cost vaccines (5.9%). Conclusions: depicts diffuse uptake areas, affected by sociodemographic characteristics. This calls large-scale health advocacy programs promote regular generate demand improve acceptance soon-to-be-launched indigenous vaccine Universal Immunization program achieve WHO global target eliminating 2030.