Knowdlege and preventive behaviors related to cervical cancer and human papiloma virus in a group of Chilean adolescents
Loading...
Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SOC CHILENA INFECTOLOGIA
Abstract
Knowdlege and preventive behaviors related to cervical cancer and human papiloma virus in a group of Chilean adolescents Introduction: The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection in young people and recognized as the most important risk factor for cervical cancer (CC). Aim: To describe the degree of knowledge that a group of Chilean teenagers have of HPV infection, CC, and its relationship with preventive behavior. Methods: This is an analytical study, with a random sample of 226 adolescents from three public schools of the Metropolitan Region in Santiago. Results: A fifth of the interviewed students did not know there was a HPV vaccine. Multiple sexual partners was indicated as a risk factor of CC by 70.8% and of HPV infection by 78.3% of them; while 60.3% identified inheritance as a risk factor. HPV transmission through unprotected sexual relations was identified by 68.2% of the sample. Of sexually active adolescents, condom use during sexual relations was reported by 31.1%. The adolescents who use condoms significantly have more knowledge regarding the number of sexual partners and age of first sexual intercourse as a risk factor for CC. Conclusion: adolescents know about HPV transmission, however, the preventing conducts are not related to this information.
Description
Keywords
Human papilloma virus, cervical cancer, adolescents, knowledge, preventive behaviors, HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS HPV, AMERICAN WOMEN, KNOWLEDGE, BELIEFS, PAP, VACCINATION, ACCEPTABILITY, UNIVERSITY, ATTITUDES, STUDENTS