J Korean Acad Nurs.  2012 Apr;42(2):217-225. 10.4040/jkan.2012.42.2.217.

Factors Associated with Human Papillomavirus related Stigma, Shame, and Intent of HPV Test

• Kim HW

• KMID: 1376063
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2012.42.2.217

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to examine the factors associated with HPV (Human Papillomavirus) related stigma, shame and intent to have HPV test among adult women.
METHODS
Data were collected from December 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010, and participants were 324 women who visited an obstetric gynecologic clinic. They anticipated testing positive for HPV. Then HPV related stigma, shame, intent to have HPV testing and HPV knowledge were measured. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test and multivariate adjusted logistic regression were used for data analysis.
RESULTS
The levels of stigma and shame were higher than average. Intent to have HPV test was high and HPV knowledge was low. Women who answered that HPV is not sexually transmitted had lower HPV stigma than did women who answered they didn't know (OR=0.20, 95%CI 0.06-0.68). Women with lower stigma showed lower intent to have HPV test than women with higher stigma (OR=0.46, 95%CI 0.26-0.82).
CONCLUSION
Basic HPV information should be fully understood for women especially prior to HPV test. Normalizing HPV stigma is necessary for women who perceive HPV as sexually transmitted and women intending to have HPV test.

Keyword

Papillomavirus vaccines; Cervix cancer; Sexually transmitted infection; Social stigma; Shame

MeSH Terms

Adult
Female
Humans
Mass Screening
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Papillomaviridae/*isolation & purification
Papillomavirus Infections/prevention & control/*psychology/virology
Questionnaires
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral/prevention & control/psychology
*Shame
*Social Stigma
Young Adult

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