Doha – November 16, 2024: Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) have published a scientific study probing the awareness and attitudes of students in Qatar to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and its vaccine.

The research team, which included members of WCM-Q's Institute for Population Health (IPH) and four WCM-Q medical students, recruited 398 students from seven Education City universities to complete questionnaires to determine their knowledge, perceptions and attitudes towards the vaccine and the virus, which is widely prevalent and is a known risk factor for various cancers including cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women globally.

The study found that 89 students had poor knowledge of HPV (22.4%), while 220 (55.3%) had some knowledge, and 89 (22.4%) had good knowledge. Whereas only 25 (6.3%) students had been vaccinated against HPV. However, 71% of the unvaccinated students reported being willing to get vaccinated if recommended by their healthcare provider.

While most HPV infections are asymptomatic, with 80 percent of infections resolving within a year, several HPV genotypes pose a significant cancer risk.

The study has been published in BMC Public Health, a leading journal. WCM-Q researchers who contributed to the study were Dr. Sohaila Cheema, associate professor of clinical population health sciences and assistant dean for the IPH; Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, professor of population health sciences, professor of medicine (Center for Global Health) and vice dean for population health and lifestyle medicine; Dr. Karima Chaabna, manager of population health research in the IPH; Dr. Amit Abraham, assistant director of the IPH; and Anupama Jithesh, projects coordinator, IPH. The WCM-Q students who contributed were Reem Al Janahi, Shaunak Sarker, Athba Hussain and Shrinidhi Rao.

The study notes that, although data is fairly limited, regional HPV prevalence is estimated at 81%, with the lowest rates in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen. The study also highlights that prevention of HPV infection is achievable through the HPV vaccine.

Dr. Cheema said: 'The HPV is a prevalent virus that can pose a significant cancer risk. We believe this research demonstrates a need to improve awareness and knowledge of HPV among young people, and for consideration of public health interventions such as integrating HPV vaccines into the childhood vaccination schedule and encouraging overall HPV vaccination uptake.'

Dr. Mamtani said: 'Immunization against HPV is a highly effective way to reduce the health risks posed by the virus and efforts to improve health literacy about HPV—particularly among young people—are a sensible precaution. We are grateful to the students who contributed to this paper for their hard work, dedication and desire to raise awareness of HPV among their peer group and beyond.'