title: Human papillomavirus vaccination coverage among Greek higher education female students and predictors of vaccine uptake.
abstract: One of the biggest public health measures to prevent HPV infection, and consequently, cervical cancer, is the HPV vaccine. Greece introduced HPV vaccines to its National Vaccination Program in 2008. The aims of this study were to estimate HPV vaccination coverage among female Greek students in higher education and to identify uptake predictors. We conducted a cross-sectional study. Data was collected through a self-completed questionnaire. The sample size included 3153 women with an 87% participation rate. Overall 25.8% of students reported they had received three doses of the HPV vaccine. Positive predictors of vaccine uptake were: younger age, higher educational level (own and parents), ever previous visit(s) to the gynecologist, always use of condoms, not smokers, not being in a stable relationship and easy access to Health Care Services. Vaccine compliance was unacceptably low despite the fact that the vaccination is free-of-charge. Interventions on college campuses should stress vaccination as a normative behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece. edonadik@nurs.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Elisavet M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Donadiki
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiménez-García
authors.forename: Valentín
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hernández-Barrera
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrasco-Garrido
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López de Andrés
authors.forename: Emmanuel G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Velonakis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines