1.

1 INTRODUCTION:

Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer that affects women worldwide,
particularly in developing countries. Vaccines have been developed to protect against the
human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the main cause of cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is
effective in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer, and the World Health Organization
recommends its use in all countries. Nurses play a crucial role in promoting the use of the HPV
vaccine and educating patients about its benefits. However, nurses need to have adequate
knowledge about the vaccine to be able to do so effectively. Therefore, this study aims to
assess the knowledge regarding vaccination of cervix cancer among nursing students of
selected colleges of Ludhiana.

sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most important risk factor for
cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cervical cancer.The worldwide incidence of
cervical cancer is approximately 510,000 new cases annually, with approximately 288,000
deaths worldwide.Unlike many other cancers, cervical cancer occurs early and strikes at the
productive period of a woman’s life. The incidence rises in 30–34 years of age and peaks at
55–65 years, with a median age of 38 years (age 21–67 years). Estimates suggest that more
than 80% of the sexually active women acquire genital HPV by 50 years of age. Hence, the
advent of a vaccine against HPV has stirred much excitement as well as debate.

Cervical cancer is ranked as the most frequent cancer in women in India. India has a population
of approximately 365.71 million women above 15 years of age, who are at
risk of developing cervical cancer. The current estimates indicate approximately 132,000 new
cases diagnosed and 74,000 deaths annually in India, accounting to nearly 1/3rd of the global
cervical cancer deaths.Indian women face a 2.5% cumulative lifetime risk and 1.4% cumulative
death risk from cervical cancer. At any given time, about 6.6% of women in the general
population are estimated to harbor cervical HPV infection. HPV serotypes 16 and 18 account for
nearly 76.7% of cervical cancer in India. Warts have been reported in 2–25% of sexually
transmitted disease clinic attendees in India; however, There is no data on the burden of
anogenital warts in the general community. There are currently several cervical cancer research
programmes in India. The National cancer registry programme, established by the Indian
council of medical research, acts as a surveillance system for cancer in India. It collects data in
an “active” manner, visiting government and private sector hospitals, specialized cancer
hospitals and pathology laboratories to get information on the types and magnitude of cancer
cases. The cancer registry in India does not cover the entire country actively but collects
information only from a few urban and rural registries established in the country.

1.2 NEED FOR THE STUDY

Cervical cancer is a major public health problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries.
It is the fourth most common cancer among women, with an estimated 570,000 new cases and
311,000 deaths worldwide in 2018 (WHO, 2020). In India, cervical cancer is the second most
common cancer among women, with an estimated 96,922 new cases and 60,078 deaths in
2018 (Ferlay et al., 2019). The high burden of cervical cancer in India can be attributed to
several factors, including lack of awareness, inadequate screening, and limited access to
healthcare.

The HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent cervical cancer, and its use is
recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO, 2021). However, the uptake of
the HPV vaccine remains low in many countries, including India. The reasons for the low uptake
of the HPV vaccine are multifactorial and include lack of awareness, cost, and vaccine
hesitancy.

Nurses play a vital role in promoting the use of the HPV vaccine and educating patients about
its benefits. Nurses are often the first point of contact for patients, and they have the opportunity
to provide information about the vaccine, address concerns, and encourage vaccination.
However, to be able to do so effectively, nurses need to have adequate knowledge about the
vaccine, its safety, and its benefits. Previous studies have shown that nurses often have
inadequate knowledge about the HPV vaccine, which can lead to suboptimal vaccination rates
(Cooper et al., 2017; Luque et al., 2014).

Nursing students are the future healthcare providers, and their knowledge and attitudes
regarding the HPV vaccine are crucial in promoting its use. However, there is limited research
on the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students regarding the HPV vaccine in India,
particularly in Ludhiana. Therefore, this study aims to assess the knowledge regarding
vaccination of cervix cancer among nursing students of selected colleges of Ludhiana.

The findings of this study will provide valuable information about the knowledge of nursing
students regarding the HPV vaccine and identify areas for improvement. This information can
be used to develop educational programs to enhance the knowledge and attitudes of nursing
students towards the HPV vaccine, which can ultimately lead to improved vaccination rates and
reduced incidence of cervical cancer in India.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

A descriptive study to assess knowledge regarding vaccination of cervix cancer among nursing
students of selected college of Ludhiana.

1.4 OBJECTIVES
a) To assess the knowledge regarding vaccination of cervix cancer among nursing
students
b) To determine the relationship between knowledge about cervical cancer immunization
and certain socio-demographic variables.
c) To provide an informational pamphlet to enhance the knowledge regarding vaccination of
cervix cancer among nursing students.
1.5 ASSUMPTIONS
● The nursing students have received basic education regarding the anatomy and
physiology of the reproductive system.
● The nursing students are aware of the importance of vaccinations in preventing
diseases.
● The selected college of Ludhiana has an adequate number of nursing students to
conduct the study.
● The nursing students are willing to participate in the study and provide accurate
information.

1.6 HYPOTHESIS
The nursing students of the selected college of Ludhiana have insufficient knowledge regarding
vaccination for cervical cancer.

1.7 DELIMITATION
This study is limited to nursing students only

1.8 VARIABLES UNDER STUDY

1.8.1 INDEPENDENT VARIABLES:Nursing students of selected college of Ludhiana

1.8.2 DEPENDENT VARIABLE: Knowledge regarding vaccination of cervix cancer

1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

NURSING STUDENTS: For the purpose of this study, nursing students refer to individuals
enrolled in the nursing program at the selected college of Ludhiana.

KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge refers to the understanding of facts, concepts, and principles related
to the vaccination for cervical cancer.

VACCINATION FOR CERVICAL CANCER: Vaccination for cervical cancer refers to the
administration of HPV vaccine to prevent the development of cervical cancer.

DESCRIPTIVE STUDY: A descriptive study is a research design that aims to describe the
characteristics of a population or phenomenon under study. In this study, the descriptive study
will assess the knowledge of nursing students regarding vaccination for cervical cancer.
Selected college of Ludhiana: The selected college of Ludhiana refers to a nursing college in
Ludhiana that has agreed to participate in the study