Medical students at AlMaarefa University, including Shujun Al-Azzam, Jana Samir, Sarah Al-Amer, and Amjad Al-Anzi, under the supervision of Dr. Susan Mohammed, achieved third place in their participation in the Third Saudi International Conference on Women’s Diseases, Obstetrics, and Reproductive Medicine. The conference was held from November 26th to 27th, 2021, under the patronage of the Saudi Women’s Health Association, with the research titled “Awareness of Resident Females in Riyadh City regarding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine.”
The research aimed to measure the awareness level among females aged 18 and above regarding the HPV virus, its relationship with cervical cancer, transmission methods, and their knowledge of the availability of a safe vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. This is especially significant considering the vaccine’s availability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The study distinguished itself by diagnosing the level of awareness about the HPV virus and the availability of a vaccine among females in Riyadh. The study revealed that only 30% were aware of the virus’s existence, while 15% knew about the vaccine’s availability among a sample of 1003 individuals from various age groups and educational backgrounds.
Dr. Saad Aseeri, the Vice Dean of the College of Medicine, concluded his statement by congratulating the winning students and expressing gratitude to their supervising doctor. He wished for continued success and excellence for the students and staff of AlMaarefa University.
On her part, Dr. Ibtisam Al-Madi, the advisor to the University President, emphasized the importance of research excellence at AlMaarefa University as a natural result of the excellence of its students and educational inputs. She reaffirmed that scientific research is a skill acquired by students through theoretical education and practical training to achieve the desired research quality.
