Conhecimento de mulheres atendidas nas Clínicas da Família sobre HPV e câncer de colo do útero em Campo Grande - MS

Abstract

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the necessary conditions for the development of cervical cancer, and knowledge on the subject is important for disease prevention and control. The study aimed to identify women's knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer, regarding socioeconomic characterization, transmission, prevention, related symptoms and sources of information. This is a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study, using primary data obtained from 200 women over 25 years of age, who sought care among the three Family Clinics, located in neighborhoods with socioeconomic vulnerabilities, in Campo Grande, MS. The women were approached individually and for convenience, while waiting for various services. All signed the TCLE (CEP/UFMS Opinion 4,658,757, 04/19/2021). In a reserved environment, a printed, structured questionnaire was applied, containing 20 multiple-choice questions related to knowledge about HPV infection and socioeconomic profile. Data were analyzed by the program (Software Microsoft Excel®, 2013) and the association between variables was performed using the chi-square test (significance p<0.05). Among the 200 women interviewed, 32.5% (65/200) did not indicate that HPV is a type of virus that can cause cervical cancer and 16% misinterpreted it, designating HPV as cancer itself (10.5 %) or genital herpes (5.5%). When relating these results to the level of education, it was observed that the highest percentages of ignorance were among women with the lowest levels of education. Only 5.5% (11/200) considered skin-to-skin contact as a route of transmission and 28.5% of women were unaware of transmission through oral sex. There was a predominance of women (64%, 128/200) who reported that the infection has no signs/symptoms and 23.5% (47/200) did not relate HPV to genital warts. As for prevention, 36% (72/200) of women were not aware of the HPV vaccine and 41% (82/200) were unaware that boys should also be vaccinated against HPV. The most frequent source of information about HPV was television (49%, 99/200) and only 27% (54/200) and 25% (50/200) of women obtained knowledge through health professionals and schools/ teaching locations, respectively. The results point to weaknesses in knowledge regarding HPV infection and consolidate the importance of health education, through reliable means of communication and directed mainly at transmission and infection prevention measures.

Descriptors: Family Health; Cervical cancer; Women's Health; Public Health, knowledge.