KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PREVALENCE OF HPV VACCINE UPTAKE AMONG LASUSTECH STUDENTS IKORODU

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection and a leading cause of cervical and other cancers. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, uptake among young adults remains low due to poor awareness and systemic challenges. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and prevalence of HPV vaccine uptake among undergraduate students of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH),ikorodu . A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 379 students selected using multi-stage sampling across three colleges. Data were collected using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Analysis was done using SPSS version 26, with both descriptive statistics and chi- square tests employed. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained prior to data collection. The study revealed that 51% of the respondents had good knowledge of HPV and its vaccine, while 99% demonstrated a positive attitude toward vaccination. However, actual vaccine uptake was low, with only 13% of students having received at least one dose. Major barriers identified included poor awareness (82.1%), fear of side effects (75.3%), high cost (65.5%), and limited vaccine availability on campus (75.8%). Despite generally positive attitudes, vaccine uptake among LASUSTECH students remains low due to knowledge gaps and access barriers. The study recommends intensified awareness campaigns, improved vaccine accessibility, and institutional support for HPV prevention. Human Papilloma virus, Vaccine Uptake, Knowledge, Attitude, LASUSTECH, Cervical Cancer, Public Health Word Count: 250