Lea Tami Suzuki Zuchelo

Knowledge and acceptability of HPV vaccine among HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated adolescents at Western Amazon

SUMMARY PURPOSE To analyze the level of knowledge about and the acceptability of the HPV vaccine among vaccinated and unvaccinated adolescents in the Western Amazon. METHODS A cross-sectional study on adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. The instrument used to collect data contains demographic and socioeconomic information and 27 questions that assess the knowledge and acceptability of the HPV vaccine. To compare the prevalence of vaccinated adolescents with the correct answers to questions about HPV and acceptability and vaccination, the robust variance Poisson regression model was used in the Stata 13.0 software. FINDINGS A total of 190 adolescents participated in the study, 60.5% in the age group of vaccination recommended by the Brazilian government, among them, 53.9% reported not having been vaccinated (p <0.001). A total of 150 (78.9%) adolescents correctly recognized HPV as a virus; 121 (63.7%) recognized HPV as a cause of cervical cancer. Participants who know HPV is a causative factor for cervical cancer are 1.94 times more likely to have been vaccinated than those who do not. Among the interviewees, the main sources of knowledge about the vaccine were schools (51.6%) and health professionals (22.6%). CONCLUSION Unvaccinated adolescents have knowledge gaps about HPV and its vaccine when compared to those vaccinated. Our results emphasize the need for effective campaigns to deliver adequate information about HPV and its vaccine to adolescents, their parents, and health professionals.

Adolescents’ knowledge of HPV and sexually transmitted infections at public high schools in São Paulo: A cross-sectional study

To assess the knowledge of students from public high schools in poor communities about HPV and Sexually Transmitted Infections and their attitude towards and prevention of such diseases. Cross-sectional study with adolescents from public schools of São Paulo - Brazil. Participants were selected for an interview by a randomization program. A questionnaire about knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices regarding STIs, including HPV, according to sex was administered and answers were analyzed by the Poisson regression model with robust variance. Median age of the 269 participants was 16 years. The majority was of African descent (68.8%, n = 185), most (74%, n = 199) were religious and the vast majority (90.7%, n = 244) lived with their parents. The Poisson regression revealed statistically significant sex-related differences regarding the following questions: "Do you know how it is prevented?" (PR = 1.12 [1.03‒1.23], p = 0.007); "Have you ever been concerned with HPV?" (PR = 1.10 [1.02‒1.19], p = 0.011); "Have you ever sought health care due to concerns about HPV?" (PR = 1.09 [1.04‒1.14], p < 0.001); "Do you know what a Pap Smear is?" (PR = 1.24 [1.13‒1.36], p < 0.001); "Do you know what the cervix is?" (PR = 1.23 [1.13‒1.34], p < 0.001); "Do you know what cervical cancer is?" (PR = 1.13 [1.04‒1.22], p = 0.004). The present results show that adolescents from public schools in poor communities in São Paulo City know little about HPV and cervical cancer. Male adolescents know less than female adolescents and are less concerned with health care.