Grassroots HPV Vaccine Education in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: A Personal Reflection

Authors

  • Mira Namba Medical Student, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4376-5500
  • Miyu Shinohara School of Nursing, Japanese Red Cross Kyushu International College of Nursing, Fukuoka, Japan
  • Samrith Sela MD.Hour Samrithsela Clinic and Consultation, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
  • Ken Khouch School of Business and Tourism, Phnom Penh International University, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
  • Yudai Kaneda School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8302-9439
  • Rei Haruyama MD. PhD. Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7239-2611

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.2256

Keywords:

Cambodia, HPV vaccine, Papillomavirus Vaccines, Health Education, Vaccination, School Health Services, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Cervical Neoplasms, Health Promotion, Public Health, Medical Student, Adolescent Health Services, Awareness., Preventive Health Services, Infection Control, Female, Program Evaluation, Health Policy, Vaccination Coverage, Health Surveys, Primary Prevention, Community Health Services

Abstract

I visited two primary schools, and concerningly, more than half of the teachers had never heard of HPV or HPV vaccine. Furthermore, the students demonstrated limited knowledge of HPV or the vaccine to the extent that they struggled to comprehend the questionnaire. However, after I delivered a 15-minute lecture about HPV and the vaccine, it was encouraging to note an increase in the number of students expressing an intention to get vaccinated. It became clear that until now, health education, including sexual health, has not been sufficiently implemented in primary schools, and thus, knowledge about HPV has not been provided by teachers sufficiently. Therefore, expanding this type of educational intervention to deliver reliable information is necessary, prioritizing teachers and parents as targets, since the intention of teachers and parents is considered to have a significant influence on the vaccination of children. A world free of cervical cancer can only be achieved through continuous education and awareness initiatives especially at the grassroots level, such as I practiced in Cambodia, to facilitate informed decision-making.

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References

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The image displays a colorful, handwritten poster that's used as a visual aid for a lecture, with annotations in the Khmer language. The poster contains a mix of diagrams, illustrations, and text. Central to the poster is a large pie chart, a section of which is highlighted, possibly indicating statistical data. Arrows branch out from the text boxes, suggesting connections or relationships between the concepts. Drawings of buildings, possibly representing institutions or clinics, are also present. Text and numbers underscore points, perhaps emphasizing statistical information or key facts related to the lecture's topic. The vibrant use of multiple colors for different sections of text and imagery indicates this is an educational tool designed to engage and inform viewers.

Published

2023-12-03 — Updated on 2024-04-12

How to Cite

Namba, M., Shinohara, M., Sela, S., Khouch, K., Kaneda, Y., & Haruyama, R. (2024). Grassroots HPV Vaccine Education in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: A Personal Reflection. International Journal of Medical Students, 12(1), 103–105. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.2256