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. 2013 Mar 31:2013:930479.
doi: 10.1155/2013/930479. Print 2013.

Knowledge about HPV and Screening of Cervical Cancer among Women from the Metropolitan Region of Natal, Brazil

Erika Galvão Lima  1 , Diego Breno Soares de Lima, Cleine Aglacy Nunes Miranda, Valeska Santana de Sena Pereira, Jenner Chrystian Veríssimo de Azevedo, Josélio Maria Galvão de Araújo, Thales Allyrio Araújo de Medeiros Fernandes, Paulo Roberto Medeiros de Azevedo, José Veríssimo Fernandes
Affiliations

Knowledge about HPV and Screening of Cervical Cancer among Women from the Metropolitan Region of Natal, Brazil

Erika Galvão Lima et al. ISRN Obstet Gynecol. .

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge level about HPV and screening of cervical cancer in women from the metropolitan region of Natal, Brazil. Materials and Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study involving sexually active women was conducted. The participants were submitted to a face-to-face interview, using a structured questionnaire that permitted the quantification of data and opinions of the respondents. Results. Most participants (70.9%) had poor knowledge about HPV and also the Pap test (53.0%). The high level of knowledge about HPV was associated with age, education, marital status, household income, and pregnancy, while the high level of knowledge about the Pap test proved to be associated only with education and household income. Conclusion. The results highlight the need for performing educational campaigns emphasizing the role of HPV in the etiology of cervical lesions of different degrees, including cervical cancer, as well as the importance of having a Pap test regularly to prevent these diseases.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of knowledge level related to Pap test and HPV. A high proportion of the women had low knowledge related to both Pap test and HPV.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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