title: University students' knowledge and attitudes regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus, and human papillomavirus vaccines in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current descriptive study aimed to determine university students' knowledge and attitudes regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccines in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 800 students participated.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out between September 1, 2012, and October 30, 2012, in 8 female dormitories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In response to the question "What are cervical cancer risk factors?" 10.0% of students said HPV; 90.9% were unaware of how to protect themselves from HPV. Of the students, 99.7% had not had an HPV vaccination, only 32.6% wanted to get an HPV vaccination, and 20.7% did not want to be vaccinated, as they believe it "might have adverse effects."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study show that female university students have low levels of awareness and knowledge toward cervical cancer risk factors, HPV, and HPV vaccination.
authors.affiliation: a Samsun School of Nursing Ondokuz Mayıs University Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Koç
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014495:Universities / Q000639:trends; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: attitude; cervical cancer; human papillomavirus; knowledge; vaccine