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Cho, Kim, Lee, Choi, Lim, Kim, Lee, Cho, Oh, and Jeong: Awareness and knowledge of human papillomavirus infection among female public health personnel
Original Article
Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2010; 53(5): 410-415.

Published online: 31 May 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5468/kjog.2010.53.5.410

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

Dong Hyu Cho, M.D.1, Eun Kyung Kim, M.D.1, Dong Hyun Lee, M.D.1, Won Ku Choi, M.D.1, Eun Ji Lim, M.D.1, Jong Hyun Kim, M.D.1, 2, Jeong Heon Lee, M.D.1, 2, Seong Nam Cho, M.D.1, 2, Byung Chan Oh, M.D.1, 2, Young Ju Jeong, M.D.1, 2

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.

2Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.

Corresponding author (yjjeong@jbnu.ac.kr)

Received 16 March 2010       Accepted 27 April 2010

Copyright © 2010 Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

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.

Keywords: Cervical cancer, Human papillomavirus, Public health personnel

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
The main sources that they have heard of human papillomavirus.
kjog-53-410-g001
Table 1
Characteristics of women who were aware and unaware of HPV with χ2 tests or Fisher's exact test for between group differences
kjog-53-410-i001

HPV: human papillomavirus, STI: sexually transmitted infection.

*Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.

Table 2
HPV knowledge among those who had heard of it (n=140 out of total sample of 546)
kjog-53-410-i002

HPV: human papillomavirus.

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