Banyumas – Cervical cancer is currently the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, with 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths reported in 2022. To address this, the WHO recommends HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14 years, before they become sexually active. However, despite these global guidelines, HPV vaccination coverage in Indonesia remains very low—reaching only 5% for the first dose and 6% for the second dose as of March 2023. This figure falls far below the WHO’s target of 90% coverage needed to effectively reduce cervical cancer rates.

  Efforts to raise public awareness of the importance of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination continue to be actively promoted. One such initiative is a research project conducted by students from the University of Groningen (RUG), the Netherlands, in collaboration with Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto (UMP). Titled “HPV Awareness and Vaccination Practices in Java: An Exploration of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices,” the study was carried out from April 1 to September 1, 2025, in 11 elementary schools and 12 junior high schools in Banyumas Regency, Central Java. The team was led by Dr. Nusratullah Ansari, MD, MPH, Ph.D, Prof. apt. Didik Setiawan, M.Sc., Ph.D, Dr. Jurjen van der Schans, along with Hanne Brook, Laura van Tholl, Meike Loonstra, and Tess Verkerk.

  The researchers employed a quantitative cross-sectional design using both paper-based and online questionnaires. They targeted a sample of 428 respondents, exceeding the calculated requirement to ensure robust data, with schools randomly selected across Central Java to represent diverse geographic areas. The survey featured 40 validated questions adapted from WHO instruments, assessing respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to HPV and vaccination.

  The study specifically targeted parents of girls aged 9 and 14 years, aligning with the primary target group of the national HPV immunization program. During implementation, the RUG student researchers were supported by UMP facilitators who helped coordinate with schools and engage the local community, through this study, the team hopes to enhance public understanding of HPV and vaccination in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and practices, particularly among those directly targeted by the immunization program. The data collected is expected to serve as a foundation for evidence-based interventions and inform the development of more effective health communication strategies in the future