보건직 여성공무원의 인유두종바이러스 감염에 대한 인식 및 지식조사 = Awareness and knowledge of human papillomavirus infection among female public health personnel

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objective: To assess the level and accuracy of understanding of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among female public health personnel in Chonbuk province. Methods: Nine hundred ninety-one female public health personnel were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing HPV awareness and specific knowledge about the virus. The questionnaire contained 11 demographic informations and nine true-false questions on knowledge about HPV infection. Results: Questionnaires were completed by 546 women, of whom 145 (37.6%) had heard of HPV. Married women (P=0.019), those with a history of candida, genital warts (P<0.001), or an abnormal smear result (P=0.001), annually visitor for a Pap smear (P=0.023) were more likely to have heard of human papilloma virus. Medical doctor (38.6%) was the most common source of hearing of HPV. Overall percentage of knowledge among those who had heard of HPV was 56.3%. Responses indicated than more than 70% had up-to-date knowledge about several issues: HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer, HPV is sexually transmitted, The pill protects against HPV, and Men can carry HPV. Fewer than 50% knowledge of HPV infection were as follows: HPV viruses are divided to low-risk and high-risk type, HPV infections persist forever, condoms protect against HPV. Conclusion: In this well educated samples, awareness of HPV infection was poor. And also, knowledge about HPV infection was relatively low. We recommend that more educational effort is needed for improving women`s knowledge and awareness of HPV infection.