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Knowledge of HPV infection and vaccination among vaccinated and unvaccinated teenaged girls
Author(s) -
Sopracordevole Francesco,
Cigolot Federica,
Mancioli Francesca,
Agarossi Alberto,
Boselli Fausto,
Ciavattini Andrea
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.02.011
Subject(s) - medicine , vaccination , transmission (telecommunications) , hpv infection , condom , human papillomavirus , genital warts , immunization , cervical cancer , immunology , gynecology , demography , family medicine , cancer , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , immune system , electrical engineering , syphilis , sociology , engineering
Objective To assess the knowledge of teenaged girls on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and vaccination 12 months after the start of a vaccine administration and information campaign. Methods Between May 15 and June 15, 2009, an anonymous questionnaire was given to 629 girls attending a secondary school in a northeastern Italian city (286 were vaccinated against HPV, 343 were unvaccinated) to investigate their knowledge on HPV infection, transmission, prevention, vaccination, and post‐vaccination behaviors. The responses were evaluated with respect to the vaccination status of the participants. Results Vaccinated teenaged girls had no more knowledge than unvaccinated ones about the route of HPV transmission, and the relationship between HPV and AIDS. Vaccinated girls had less knowledge than unvaccinated girls about preventing transmission by condom ( P = 0.003) and about the correlation between HPV and penile cancer ( P = 0.034) and warts ( P = 0.001). Furthermore, compared with unvaccinated girls, more vaccinated girls believed that contraceptive pills might prevent HPV‐related disease ( P = 0.001). Vaccinated girls better understood the importance of performing regular Pap smears after vaccination ( P = 0.021). Conclusion Knowledge on HPV infection and vaccination remains suboptimal, especially among vaccinated teenaged girls, despite a broad information campaign. Misconceptions about the utility of secondary prevention may increase risky sexual behaviors.