Investigating the Level of Knowledge about HPV and Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Behaviors of Midwifery Students and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain major public health concerns, particularly among young adults. Midwifery students, as future healthcare professionals, play a key role in prevention, patient education, and counseling. Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge about HPV and STD prevention behaviors among midwifery students and their relationship with demographic factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۳۲۷ midwifery students (۱st to ۴th year) of the Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Karabuk University, Türkiye from January to March ۲۰۲۴. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the HPV Knowledge Scale (۰-۳۳), and the Scale of Behaviors for Protection from Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD-SCS; ۲۱–۱۰۵). Data were analyzed in R software using independent-samples t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results: The mean (SD) HPV knowledge and STD prevention scores were ۱۴.۴۰ (۶.۷۳) and ۸۰.۴۲ (۹.۰۳), respectively. Students with prior STD/HPV information had significantly higher scores on both measures than those without (p < ۰.۰۰۱). HPV knowledge differed by grade level (F = ۱۵.۸۲, p < ۰.۰۰۱), but prevention scores did not (F = ۲.۱۸, p = ۰.۰۹۰). A moderate positive correlation was found between knowledge and prevention scores (r = ۰.۴۳, p < ۰.۰۰۱), and knowledge significantly predicted prevention behaviors in regression analysis (β = ۰.۴۴, p < ۰.۰۰۰۱). Conclusions: Higher HPV knowledge was associated with better preventive behaviors among midwifery students. Although HPV knowledge increased with academic grade, preventive behaviours did not. These findings highlight the need for stronger, structured HPV education within midwifery curricula.

کلیدواژه ها:

Health education ، Human papillomavirus ، Midwifery students ، Prevention behaviors ، Sexually transmitted diseases