Publication:

Knowledge, attitude and practice study on human papilloma virus vaccination among healthcare providers at a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry: a cross-sectional study

Background Cervical cancer remains a major preventable cause of morbidity and mortality among women in India. HPV vaccination is recognised globally as a critical tool for elimination strategies. As India prepares to integrate HPV vaccines into the national immunisation programme, healthcare providers knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) become pivotal. Their ability to counsel and recommend vaccination strongly influences community acceptance and vaccine uptake. This research aimed to study the knowledge, attitude, and practices related to HPV vaccination among healthcare providers in a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry, and to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and knowledge levels.

Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 168 healthcare providers including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and interns. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire adapted from prior KAP surveys. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests were used for analysis, with significance set at p<0.05.

Results Most participants (82.7%) demonstrated good knowledge about HPV and its vaccination, although gaps remained regarding updated WHO dosing recommendations. Positive attitudes were observed in 76.2% of respondents only 28.6% had received the vaccine themselves, 41% routinely recommended it, and just 32.1% had counselled a patient in the past month (18.5%). Doctors exhibited significantly higher knowledge levels than nurses and paramedical staff (p=0.02), similar to prior findings on professional disparities.

Conclusions Although healthcare providers showed strong awareness and favourable attitudes toward HPV vaccination, practical engagement, such as personal vaccination, patient counselling, and routine recommendations, remained limited. Strengthening provider competency will be essential as India moves toward nationwide HPV vaccine introduction.