Awareness of the Human Papilloma Virus and cervical cancer as predictor of attitudes towards virus control in female carriers

Abstract

Objective: to understand the awareness of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer (CC) as predictor of the attitude towards HPV diagnosis and control in female Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted The study population consisted in female HPV carriers from North-East Mexico, through convenience sampling. Sociodemographic variables were collected, and different tools were used to obtain information about the awareness of HPV and CC, knowledge of HPV, attitude towards HPV diagnosis and control, sexism, and stigma attached to HPV Descriptive statistics was applied There was a search for correlations among the variables studied Linear regression was conducted The SPSS statistical package was used Results: there was a sample of 201 participants, with 30 years as mean age (SD= 1312); 403% (n= 81) of them had university education and 75.1% (n=151) claimed to be in a stable sexual relationship. A positive and statistically significant relationship (p < 0.01) was found between the variables Attitude towards HPV and Awareness of HPV and CC From the four models found, the model Awareness of HPV and CC had direct impact on Attitude towards HPV diagnosis and control (B=0.23, F(B=0.23, F [4,196] =21.32, p= 0.01). Conclusion: having a positive diagnosis can generate fatalistic thoughts, but if the woman achieves awareness, her attitude and thoughts will be focused on searching for clinical and psychological support in order to face the reality entailed by being a HPV carrier.