HEALTH LITERACY AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS HPV VACCINATION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF OROPHARYNGEAL CANCER

• Grant number: 25/12724-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Luan César da Silva
• Grantee: Giovanna de Lima Lopes
• Host Institution: CENTRO UNIVERSITARIO NOSSA SENHORA PATROCINIO/CEUNSP

Abstract

Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) has shown a significant increase, especially among young people without exposure to classic risk factors, such as alcoholism and smoking. Vaccination against HPV plays a fundamental role as a strategy in the primary prevention of OFC. However, despite the free provision of the quadrivalent vaccine by the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil, vaccination coverage against HPV remains below the ideal, reflecting possible gaps in awareness and obstacles to accessing health services. This is aggravated in the national post-COVID-19 pandemic scenario, where a strengthening of the anti-vaccine movement has been observed. Health literacy (HL) is the ability to access, understand, and apply information for health decisions, and it is crucial to understand its role in vaccination. The lack of critical knowledge about the association between HPV and OPC can compromise vaccination adherence, especially among young people, a priority group for immunization. Therefore, this project is a cross-sectional and census study, which aims to evaluate the level of knowledge of university students about HPV vaccination and its relationship with OPC prevention, in addition to associating it with factors such as HL and access to health services. The Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ-Br) and adaptations of questionnaires for OPC and socioeconomic factors will be used. The results are expected to show the level of knowledge of university students and the main barriers in relation to vaccination, with the aim of providing solid evidence for the development of public policies aimed at increasing vaccination coverage, as well as promoting a greater understanding of the importance of HPV vaccination in preventing OPC.