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

Author(s)

Soares, Jose Maria ; de Oliveira, Hervillin Maria Creusa ; Luquetti, Camilla Maganhin ; Zuchelo, Lea Tami Suzuki ; Veiga, Eduardo Carvalho de Arruda ; Raimundo, Juliana Zangirolami ; Figueiredo, Francisco Winter dos Santos ; Alves, Mayara Souza ; Sorpreso, Isabel Cristina Esposito ; Baracat, Edmund Chada

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Clinics; v. 77, p. 6-pg., 2022-01-01.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the knowledge of students from public high schools in poor communities about HPV and Sexu-ally Transmitted Infections and their attitude towards and prevention of such diseases. Patients and methods: Cross-sectional study with adolescents from public schools of Sao Paulo - Brazil. Partici-pants 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 ana-lyzed 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 Sao Paulo City know little about HPV and cervical cancer. Male adolescents know less than female adolescents and are less con-cerned 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