A Study To Assess The Knowledge And Attitude Regarding Vaccine Against Human Papilloma Virus Infection Among Adolescent Girls (14-16 Years) in Selected Schools of Gujarat State to Develop An Information Booklet

Abstract

Adolescence is a period of transition to adult life. It is a unique phase of life during which a child goes through tremendous physical, emotional and social changes and sexual maturation occurs. The present-day adolescent is considered to be more knowledgeable about world affairs. One-fifth of the world’s population is represented by them. In today’s scenario both parents are employed to fulfil the increasing demands to maintain the socio-economic status in society, and adolescents hardly receive the guidance of their elders which they need now more than at any other stage in their life. Unfortunately, schools and colleges do not impart a proper education about growing self to these adolescents. Hence, they depend mainly on their peers, magazines, the internet and other networking sites to gain knowledge about their biological changes and social values. With little or inaccurate knowledge, these young people engage in sexual activities, rendering themselves vulnerable to venereal diseases. A variety of proliferative cutaneous and mucosal lesions, including common skin warts, benign and malignant genital tract lesions, and potentially fatal pulmonary papillomata, are caused by HPVs, which are tiny (55 nm), DNA-containing viruses. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, sometimes symptomatic, in nature and infects most mammalian and many non-mammalian animal species. Strains are almost always species-specific. Most HPV-related infections in children and adolescents are benign.