THE IMPORTANCE OF HPV VACCINATION IN PREVENTING ASSOCIATED DISEASES: A NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is considered one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections worldwide and is strongly associated with the development of precursor lesions and several types of neoplasms, especially cervical cancer. In this context, HPV vaccination stands out as one of the main prevention strategies in public health. The present study aims to analyze the importance of HPV vaccination in the prevention of associated diseases, highlighting its impact on reducing the incidence of infections and health problems. This study consists of a narrative literature review carried out through searches in the PubMed, SciELO and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases, in addition to official documents from the Ministry of Health. Studies published between 2021 and 2026, in Portuguese and English, addressing HPV transmission, clinical manifestations, vaccine efficacy and preventive strategies were selected. The results demonstrated high effectiveness of vaccination in reducing persistent infections, precancerous lesions and cancers associated with HPV. The studies also showed that low vaccination coverage remains associated with misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, taboos related to sexuality and difficulties in accessing health services. In addition, health education actions significantly contributed to increasing vaccination adherence and strengthening preventive strategies. It is concluded that HPV vaccination plays a fundamental role in health promotion and reduction of diseases associated with the virus, making it essential to strengthen public policies, educational actions and vaccination coverage.