Vaccination against human papillomavirus

Humani papiloma virus (HPV) je spolno prenosiva virusna bolest. Infekcija zahvaća sve dobne skupine, no najzahvaćeniji su adolescenti koji zbog životnih promjena najčešće stupaju u odnose bez zaštite i promišljanja. HPV može biti asimptomatska infekcija, no može imati i vrlo izraženu kliničku sliku. Najčešće se javljaju bradavice po spolovilu i oko njega, a rjeđe u usnoj šupljini i području glave. Trenutno brojimo više od 200 tipova virusa, no najznačajniji su 6 i 11 koji glase kao nisko rizični i uzrokuju bradavice, te 16 i 18 kao visokorizični koji uzrokuju kancerozne promjene stanica te dovode do raka. HPV je tijekom vremena samoizlječiva infekcija, no nema posebne terapije kojom bi se infekcija liječila. Stoga je vrlo važna prevencija kao što je cijepljenje kojom smanjujemo mogućnost infekcije na najmanju moguću razinu, tj. da dođe do pojave bradavica i kanceroznih promjena. Osim cijepljenja, vrlo važna je provedba edukacija, kampanja, javnih tribina i slično. U Republici Hrvatskoj cijepljenje nije u redovitom programu cijepljenja - besplatno je, no ne i obavezno. Stoga imamo problem necijepljenja djece zbog odluke roditelja, ali i kasnije njihovih odluka. Također vrlo je važna dobra i kvalitetna dijagnostika te probir kojim se omogućuje da se na vrijeme otkrije zaraza HPV-om i spriječi progresija kanceroznih promjena. Shodno tome je u svrhu ovog završnog rada provedena online anketa putem Google obrasca u razdoblju od ožujka 2019. pa do lipnja 2019. godine kojoj je pristupilo 634 ispitanika. Anketa je bila podijeljena na nekoliko odlomaka; od demografskih podataka do njihove seksualnosti te znanja o HPV-u i stavova o cijepljenju. U provedenoj anketi nad populacijom Republike Hrvatske može se vidjeti kako populacija ispitanika ima djelomično znanje o HPV-u, zaštiti od infekcije, ali i o cijepljenju. Većina njih ima dobro mišljenje o cjepivima protiv HPV-a i cijepila bi svoju djecu, dok nešto manji broj ispitanika je ipak sklon vjerovati u štetnost cjepiva i njegovu nedjelotvornost. Također, u rezultatima ankete nalazi se određeni broj osoba zaraženim HPV-om, koji se eventualno mogao spriječiti prevencijom, odnosno odgovornim spolnim ponašanjem i cijepljenjem. Kako bi povećali stopu procijepljenih protiv HPV-a, treba pridodati veću pozornost HPV-u kroz medije i javne tribine, edukacije i kampanje kako bi stanovništvo ipak spoznalo djelotvornost cjepiva. Važno je da se s edukacijom krene što ranije, već tijekom školovanja, kako bi u što većoj mjeri prevenirali veliku pojavnost HPV-a.Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted viral disease. Infection is known to affect all age groups; however, the primary risk group are adolescents who, due to life changes, most often enter into relationships without adequate protection and reflection. HPV can be an asymptomatic infection, but can also present with very pronounced clinical manifestations. The most common presentation are warts around the genital area, and less frequently in the oral cavity and the head. Currently there are more than 200 types of HPV known, albeit the most significant ones are 6 and 11 (which are considered low-risk and cause warts), as well as 16 and 18, which are high-risk ones that cause cancerous cell changes and lead to cancer development. Over time, HPV can regress on its own, but there is no specific treatment option available for this infection. Therefore, prevention such as vaccination is quite important to drastically reduce the chance of infection in order to halt the development of warts and/or cancerous changes. In addition to vaccination, adequate education and public health campaigns are of utmost importance. In Croatia HPV vaccination is not a part of regular vaccine schedule - it is also free of charge, but not obligatory. Hence there is a problem of children not getting their vaccination because of their parents' decision, but also their decisions in later years. Appropriate and state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures and screening options to detect HPV infection in a timely manner and prevent the progression of cancerous changes is also indispensable. Accordingly, for the purposes of this thesis, an online survey was conducted using Google Forms from March 2019 to June 2019, with a total population of 634 respondents. The survey was divided into several sections; from demographic data to probing their sexual habits and HPV knowledge, as well as attitudes on vaccination. The conducted survey on the Croatian population reveals that the population of the respondents has a partial knowledge about HPV, protection against infection and vaccination. Most of them harbour a positive outlook on HPV vaccines and would vaccinate their children, while a slightly smaller number of respondents are still inclined to believe in the harmfulness of the vaccine and its ineffectiveness. Also, the results of the survey found a number of individuals infected with HPV, which could possibly be prevented by preventive measures such as responsible sexual behaviour and vaccination. In order to increase the vaccination rates against HPV, greater attention should be given to HPV through the media and public campaigns, so that the population can recognize the effectiveness of the vaccine. It is important to start with the education as early as possible (preferably during school) in order to less the high HPV burden as much as possible