Paul A. Agius, Researcher for Mother and Child Health at La Trobe University, amongst colleagues, led research titled “Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer: Gardasil® vaccination status and knowledge amongst a nationally representative sample of Australian secondary school students” (2015) that declares student knowledge in Australian secondary schools regarding HPV and related health risks was lacking. Agius collected the data through a cross-sectional stratified cluster sample of kids in secondary schools across Australian by having the students fill out true/false statements on HPV and cervical cancer which ultimately showed that only a third of the students knew what HPV was, and only one fourth of students understood the association of HPV and cervical cancer. This research serves the purpose of increasing knowledge about what HPV actually is in terms of sexually transmitted infections, and not just a random vaccine to prevent cancer as has been advertised in the past. Agius and colleagues that aided in the paper are targeting public health audiences to raise more awareness on what HPV is as an STI as well as the damaging effects it can cause.
Reference:
Agius PA, Pitts MK, Smith AMA, Mitchell A. 2010. Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer: gardasil vaccination status and knowledge amongst a nationally representative sample of Australian secondary school students. Vaccine 28:4416-4422
