Knowledge and preventive behaviors related to cervical cancer and human papiloma virus in a group of Chilean adolescents
Urrutia, M.Teresa.; Concha, X.; Riquelme, G.; Padilla, O.
Revista Chilena de Infectologia Organo Oficial de la Sociedad Chilena de Infectologia 29(6): 600-606
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0716-1018 PMID: 23412027 DOI: 10.4067/s0716-10182012000700003Document Number: 578888
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). To describe the degree of knowledge that a group of Chilean teenagers have of HPV infection, CC, and its relationship with preventive behavior. This is an analytical study, with a random sample of 226 adolescents from three public schools of the Metropolitan Region in Santiago. 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. adolescents know about HPV transmission, however, the preventing conducts are not related to this information.