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

Author(s)

Jose Maria Soares Junior ^[1] ; Hervillin Maria Creusa de Oliveira ^[2] ; Camilla Maganhin Luquetti ^[3] ; Lea Tami Suzuki Zuchelo ^[4] ; Eduardo Carvalho de Arruda Veiga ^[5] ; Juliana Zangirolami Raimundo ^[6] ; Francisco Winter dos Santos Figueiredo ^[7] ; Mayara Souza Alves ^[8] ; Isabel Cristina Esposito Sorpreso ^[9] ; Edmund Chada Baracat ^[10]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

^[7] Centro Universitário do ABC. Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Estatística - Brasil

^[8] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

^[9] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

^[10] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital das Clínicas - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Clinics; v. 77, 2023-01-09.

Abstract

Abstract Purpose 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. Patients and methods 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. Results 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). Conclusions 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. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/16847-0 - Effectiveness of cervicovaginal self sampling in screening of cervical cancer
• Grantee: José Maria Soares Junior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/07276-2 - Action of melatonin in granulose cells in women with conjugal infertility submitted to in vitro fertilization
• Grantee: Camilla Maganhin Luquetti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation