School-based intervention for the prevention of HPV among adolescents : a randomised controlled study

• Background: Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is one important factor for preconception health and care. In Sweden a national vaccination programme for girls was implemented in 2012.Aim: To improve primary prevention of HPV infection by promoting vaccination and increased condom use among upper secondary school students at time for the general health interview with the school nurse.Methods: Randomised controlled trial among upper secondary schools (n=18). Participant schools were first randomised to the intervention or the control group, after which individual classes were randomised to be included or not. 832 students, both boys and girls aged 16 were invited to participate and in the end, 741 (89.1%) students completed the study. The intervention was based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). According to HBM a person’s health behaviour can be explained by individual beliefs regarding health actions. School nurses delivered 30 minute face-to-face structured information about HPV, including cancer risks and HPV prevention, i.e. condom use and HPV vaccination. Students in both groups completed questionnaires at baseline and after three months.Results: The intervention had positive effect on behaviour: girls in the intervention group chose to have themselves vaccinated to a significantly higher degree than the controls (p=0.02). There was also a significant effect on HBM total score (p=0.003), students in the intervention group had more favourable beliefs compared to the controls. The influence on the HBM parameters susceptibility and severity were also significant (p<0.001 for both variables). In addition, the intervention had significant effect on the intention to use condom (p=0.004).Conclusion: The school-based intervention increased HPV vaccination rates and had favourable effects on beliefs towards primary prevention of HPV in a diverse population of adolescents. These resultss provide the scientific support for the implication of nation-wide educational interventions with the potential to improve preconception health.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

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Hälsovetenskap

Health and Caring Sciences

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