Abstract
Introduction: The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection in young people and recognized as the most important risk factor for cervical cancer (CC). Aim: To describe the degree of knowledge that a group of Chilean teenagers have of HPV infection, CC, and its relationship with preventive behavior. Methods: This is an analytical study, with a random sample of 226 adolescents from three public schools of the Metropolitan Region in Santiago. Results: A fifth of the interviewed students did not know there was a HPV vaccine. Multiple sexual partners was indicated as a risk factor of CC by 70.8% and of HPV infection by 78.3% of them; while 60.3% identified inheritance as a risk factor. HPV transmission through unprotected sexual relations was identified by 68.2% of the sample. Of sexually active adolescents, condom use during sexual relations was reported by 31.1%. The adolescents who use condoms significantly have more knowledge regarding the number of sexual partners and age of first sexual intercourse as a risk factor for CC. Conclusion: adolescents know about HPV transmission, however, the preventing conducts are not related to this information.
Translated title of the contribution | Conocimientos y conductas preventivas sobre cáncer cérvico-uterino y virus papiloma humano en un grupo de adolescentes chilenas |
---|---|
Original language | English |
Pages (from-to) | 600-606 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Revista Chilena de Infectologia |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2012 |
Keywords
- Adolescents
- Cervical cancer
- Human papilloma virus
- Knowledge
- Preventive behaviors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases