Awareness of cervical cancer and its correlates among junior high school students in Eastern China: a cross sectional study.
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BACKGROUND: The awareness level of cervical cancer and its correlates among junior high school students is not well documented. This perspectives is crucial to guide cervical cancer prevention in this population. METHODS: In 2023, we conducted an anonymous online self-administered questionnaire survey with 4,089 valid participants randomly selected on a class basis from six junior high schools in six counties/districts across three municipalities in Zhejiang Province. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: 63.9% (1,471/2,303) of female students and 50.4% (900/1,786) of male students were aware of cervical cancer. The results of multivariate analysis showed that: Grade 2(OR = 1.43, 95% CI:1.13–1.83), Grade 3(OR = 1.45, 95% CI:1.12–1.88), being unaware of maternal education level (OR = 0.49, 95% CI:0.32-0. 74), being an only child in the family (OR = 1.43, 95% CI:1.13–1.83), being from average-income(OR = 2.31, 95% CI:1.39–3.87) and low-income family (OR = 2.90, 95% CI:1.56–5.41), having acquaintances with cancer (OR = 2.91, 95% CI:2.31–3.66), awareness of HPV (OR = 3. 74, 95% CI:2.69–5.19), awareness of the HPV vaccine (OR = 2.91, 95% CI:2.24–3.78), concern about developing cervical cancer (OR = 2.02, 95% CI:1.64–2.49), having received HPV and HPV vaccine-related health education at school (OR = 1. 30, 95% CI:1.05–1.61), and believing that there was a need for schools to provide HPV and HPV vaccine-related health education(OR = 1.65, 95% CI:1.20–2.25), are associated with awareness of cervical cancer among female students. Grade 2(OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.27–2.17), Grade 3(OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.20–2.06), being unware of maternal educational level (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.35–0.96), having acquaintances with cancer(OR = 3.53, 95% CI: 2.77–4.49), awareness of HPV (OR = 4.65, 95% CI: 3.21-6. 73), awareness of the HPV vaccine (OR = 2.41, 95% CI:1.76–3.31), concern about a sexual partner developing cervical cancer(OR = 1.36, 95% CI:1.00-1.83), and believing that there was a need for HPV and HPV vaccine-related health education in schools(OR = 2.15, 95% CI:1.60–2.89), were associated with awareness of cervical cancer among male students. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of awareness of cervical cancer, HPV and the HPV vaccine, and the risk perception of HPV infection among participants is low and should be increased through publicity and education in schools, families and society, in order to raise awareness of prevention of cervical cancer and other diseases caused by HPV infection among adolescents.