EFFECTIVENESS OF HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM ON  KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS  VACCINE IN FEMALE ADOLESCENT STUDENTS IN NORTH-EAST MALAYSIA.

 

Nor Fatma ISMAIL1, Rosnani ZAKARIA1, Lili Husniati Y1, Mastura MS2

 

1Department of Family Medicine, School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia.

2Department of Family Medicine, IPPT, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

 

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In Malaysia, cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women after breast cancer. Our National school-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prophylaxis vaccination programme was started in 2010 for girls aged 13 years. However, no standardised education module has been provided. Methods: This was a prospective open, non-randomised controlled interventional study among female students in two secondary schools in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The intervention group received a health education programme regarding HPV vaccination and cervical cancer. The control group received the standard education materials. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the health education programme in terms of knowledge and attitude at the baseline and post-intervention at 3 months. Data were analysed using SPSS version 22. Results: Mean knowledge percentage score within each group based on the time at baseline and post-intervention at 3 months shows that the mean difference was 12.23 (95% CI: 16.48, 7.98) for the intervention group and 3.80 (95% CI: 0.77, 6.83) for the control group. The mean difference between groups at baseline and post-intervention at 3 months was statistically significant for knowledge (P=0.001). The mean attitude percentage scores at baseline and 3 months post-intervention were unchanged for both groups and the mean difference between the two groups were not statistically significant at 3 months post-intervention (p=0.870). Conclusion: The health programme effectively increased the knowledge on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer, although the attitude score did not change. This new health education programme could become a standard education programme for the health staff and paramedics to deliver during an HPV vaccination campaign.

           

Keywords: Attitude, Cervical cancer, Health education, Human papilloma virus, Intervention, Knowledge, Vaccination.

 

Corresponding author: Dr. Rosnani Zakaria, MAFP (Malaysia), FRACGP (Australia), Family Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus,Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

Mobile no: +60199866763; Fax No: +609-7653370; Telephone number:  +6019-9866763

email: rosnaniz74@gmail.com, or rosnani@usm.my

 

Brunei Int Med J.2021;17:26-35

 

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