Teenage girls who are at risk of getting cervical cancer are generally not offered the protective human papilloma virus HPV injection and are least likely to complete the course if they do get it , a latest study shows.
Researchers in the United Kingdom found that at risk young women are also least likely to complete the full course of the vaccination that protects against the HPV.
For the study, the researchers examined 2,247 young women aged between 13 and 19. They all attended sexual health clinics in 19 hospitals and 13 community services across England between March and August 2011.
The authors stated in a press release that the participants had higher rate of factors contributing to developing cervical cancer such as smoking, having sex under the age of 16 and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The researchers found that nearly three out of four teens said they were offered the HPV jab and only 65 percent received all three vaccinations.
The overall rate of women from London who received the HPV jab was significantly less.
"The highest risk individuals were the least likely to have been offered or to have completed the course," the authors said, reports the NursingTimes.net.
"This survey highlights an opportunity for primary prevention by routinely offering the HPV vaccine to eligible women attending sexual health services."
The authors warned that the low participation in the HPV vaccination program put them at risk of developing cervical cancer. It may affect their adulthood .
"Although the (Department of Health) has no explicit targets for vaccine completion, modelling work predicted a significant impact on cervical cancer deaths with an 80% uptake of all three doses," authors said.
