Original Research

Knowledge, Perceptions and Misconceptions Regarding HPV Vaccination among Adolescent Girls in Pakistan

Fatima Khanum1
Services Institute Of Medical Sciences, Lahore
Alssa Omer Alvi2
Al- Aleem Medical College, Lahore
Minahil Waheed2
Al- Aleem Medical College, Lahore
Anum Shahid1
Services Institute Of Medical Sciences, Lahore
Mahatab Noor2
Al- Aleem Medical College, Lahore
Moeez Ali Khan3
Rashid Lateef Medical College, Lahore

✉ Correspondence: Anum Shahid Email: anumshahid1986@gmail.com

DOI https://doi.org/10.70302/jpsim.v7i3.2645
Volume: 7, Issue 3 Pages: 238–243 Published: 21 Aug 2026
Received: 15 Mar 2026 Revised: 18 Jun 2026 Accepted: 12 Aug 2026 Published Online: 21 Aug 2026

Abstract

Objectives

To assess the knowledge, perceptions and misconceptions regarding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in Pakistan.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional survey-based study conducted over a defined study period in schools and community settings. Adolescents falling within the recommended age range for HPV vaccination were included. Data regarding demographic profile, awareness of HPV, knowledge of its association with cervical cancer, understanding of HPV vaccination, and perceived barriers to vaccination was collected and analyzed.

Results

A total of 633 respondents participated in the survey. The most common age was 13 years and overall awareness regarding HPV was 57%. Among the participants, 628 (99%) were females and 5 (1%) were males. Four hundred and ten (65%) participants had secondary education, 118 (19%) had no formal education, 64 (10%) had primary education and 41 (6%) had higher education. Overall, 432 (68%) participants linked HPV with cervical cancer, 505 (80%) knew that HPV vaccination is recommended for prevention of cervical cancer, and 439 (69%) knew that the vaccine prevents cervical cancer. The most common barriers to vaccination were myths and misconceptions 195 (31%), cultural concerns 192 (30%), lack of awareness 149 (24%), access issues 90 (14%) and cost 74 (12%).

Conclusion

Awareness regarding HPV and HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in Pakistan was moderate, with myths, misconceptions and cultural concerns being the major barriers to vaccination. Since the participants belonged to the adolescent age group, early educational intervention is crucial. Targeted school-based awareness programs may help reduce misconceptions, improve knowledge, and increase HPV vaccination acceptance in Pakistan.

Keywords
Human Papillomavirus HPV vaccination cervical cancer adolescent girls awareness misconceptions Pakistan.

How to Cite This Article

Khanum F, Alvi AO, Waheed M, Shahid A, Noor M, Khan MA. Knowledge, Perceptions and Misconceptions Regarding HPV Vaccination among Adolescent Girls in Pakistan. J Pak Soc Intern Med. 2026;7(3):238–243. doi:10.70302/jpsim.v7i3.2645

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Disclosed in accordance with ICMJE and COPE guidelines.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency.

Funder information follows the Crossref Funder Registry standard.

Ethics Statement

not_applicable

Conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

References

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Reference list indexed for Google Scholar and ResearchGate. DOI links resolve via doi.org.

CC BY CC BY 4.0 This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. May be shared and adapted with attribution. © 2026 Journal of Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine.
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