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Examination of Knowledge About Hpv Infection Among Mothers and Daughters

2015; Elsevier BV; Volume: 18; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jval.2015.09.2891

1524-4733

A. Pakai, K Millei, I Boncz, Orsolya Máté, Z. Kívés, K Szabó-Gabara, I. Karácsony, R Vajda,

Nutrition and Health Studies

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted pathogen of the 21st century. Infection by the oncogenic HPV-types is responsible for the development of cervical cancer. Our aim was to evaluate mothers’ and the their daughters’ level of knowledge regarding HPV, cervical cancer and HPV-injection. We conducted our quantitative, cross-sectional study with the help of a self-edited questionnaire between May 1st 2013 and August 31st 2013. Our sample was assembled by non-randomised, convenience sampling technique, and contained mothers and their daughters aged 18 to 25 (N=163) living in Zalaegerszeg and its neighbourhood. The applied questionnaire focused on the following topics: socio-demographic questions, knowledge on HPV and HPV-injection, attitude. For data analysis we applied Microsoft Office Excel and the SPSS software, and completed descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and frequency) and mathematical statistics (two-sample t-test) (p<0.05). 81.3% of the respondents have participated in cervical cancer screening at least once in their lives: 94.6% of mothers and 69.8% of daughters. Average age at the first gynaecologic examination of the respondents was 19,5±3,41 years; for the daughters this age was 17,72±1,34 on average, for the mothers this age was 4 years more on average, around age 21. 97% of the mother respondents and 79% of the daughter respondents know correctly what HPV means. Most of the respondents (n=119) never received any HPV-injection, although they have heard about this option. Generally the level of knowledge on HPV-injection is higher in case of young women compared to their mothers (p<0.05). Based on our results we may claim that it is important to emphasis the gynaecological prevention within the target group, and that young girls – being aware of their responsibility – should do everything to maintain their good health during adolescence.