Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2010 May;53(5):410-415. 10.5468/kjog.2010.53.5.410.

Awareness and knowledge of human papillomavirus infection among female public health personnel

• Cho DH
• Kim EK
• Lee DH
• Choi WK
• Lim EJ
• Kim JH
• Lee JH
• Cho SN
• Oh BC
• Jeong YJ

• KMID: 2273872
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/kjog.2010.53.5.410

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To assess the level and accuracy of understanding of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among female public health personnel in Chonbuk province.
METHODS
Nine hundred ninety-one female public health personnel were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing HPV awareness and specific knowledge about the virus. The questionnaire contained 11 demographic informations and nine true-false questions on knowledge about HPV infection.
RESULTS
Questionnaires were completed by 546 women, of whom 145 (37.6%) had heard of HPV. Married women (P=0.019), those with a history of candida, genital warts (P<0.001), or an abnormal smear result (P=0.001), annually visitor for a Pap smear (P=0.023) were more likely to have heard of human papilloma virus. Medical doctor (38.6%) was the most common source of hearing of HPV. Overall percentage of knowledge among those who had heard of HPV was 56.3%. Responses indicated than more than 70% had up-to-date knowledge about several issues: HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer, HPV is sexually transmitted, The pill protects against HPV, and Men can carry HPV. Fewer than 50% knowledge of HPV infection were as follows: HPV viruses are divided to low-risk and high-risk type, HPV infections persist forever, condoms protect against HPV.
CONCLUSION
In this well educated samples, awareness of HPV infection was poor. And also, knowledge about HPV infection was relatively low. We recommend that more educational effort is needed for improving women's knowledge and awareness of HPV infection.

Keyword

Cervical cancer; Human papillomavirus; Public health personnel

MeSH Terms

Candida
Condoms
Condylomata Acuminata
Female
Hearing
Humans
Male
Papilloma
Papillomavirus Infections
Public Health
Surveys and Questionnaire
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Viruses

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The main sources that they have heard of human papillomavirus.

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