Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies among young sexually active females worldwide. The most common cause of cervical cancer is human papillomavirus infection which is sexually transmitted. It can be prevented by human papillomavirus vaccines. The uptake of the vaccine is still low despite the promising results of the vaccine. Aim: The aim of our study is to assess the level of awareness regarding Human papillomavirus vaccination and to determine the barriers that limit the vaccination among females in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 18 September 2018 until 7 May 2019, at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A sample size of 382 adult Saudi females collected from three clinics which are gynaecology, family medicine and paediatrics clinic by electronic questionnaire through an email invitation, which was validated by a pilot study. Descriptive statistic was performed using SPSS version 22. Ethical approval number KSUMC/IRB-02/875123. Results: Among 382 respondents, 319 (83.5%) are aware of cervical cancer, however, a low percentage of them knew the cause. The rate of HPV awareness is (18.6%). More than half of the respondents are not sure whether the HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer or not. The main barriers for no vaccination were lack of awareness (73%) and concerns about the side effects (56%). Conclusion: Most of the respondents lack knowledge about HPV and its vaccination. It's recommended to increase awareness by conducting public awareness programs and applying policies regarding the vaccine.