Adolescents’ knowledge of HPV and sexually transmitted infections at public high schools in São Paulo: A cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Jose Maria Soares Junior Universidade de São Paulo
  • Hervillin Maria Creusa de Oliveira Universidade de São Paulo
  • Camilla Maganhin Luquetti Universidade de São Paulo
  • Lea Tami Suzuki Zuchelo Universidade de São Paulo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5249-0281
  • Eduardo Carvalho de Arruda Veiga Universidade de São Paulo
  • Juliana Zangirolami Raimundo Universidade de São Paulo
  • Francisco Winter dos Santos Figueiredo Centro Universitário do ABC
  • Mayara Souza Alves Universidade de São Paulo
  • Isabel Cristina Esposito Sorpreso Universidade de São Paulo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5475-5957
  • Edmund Chada Baracat Universidade de São Paulo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0111-9030

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100138

Keywords:

Adolescent health, Papillomaviridae, Vaccination, Knowledge, Health education, Public health

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the knowledge of students from public high schools in poor communities about HPV and Sexually Transmitted Infections and their attitude towards and prevention of such diseases.

Patients and methods: Cross-sectional study with adolescents from public schools of São Paulo – Brazil. Participants were selected for an interview by a randomization program. A questionnaire about knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices regarding STIs, including HPV, according to sex was administered and answers were analyzed by the Poisson regression model with robust variance.

Results: Median age of the 269 participants was 16 years. The majority was of African descent (68.8%, n = 185), most (74%, n = 199) were religious and the vast majority (90.7%, n = 244) lived with their parents. The Poisson regression revealed statistically significant sex-related differences regarding the following questions: “Do you know how it is prevented?” (PR = 1.12 [1.03‒1.23], p = 0.007); “Have you ever been concerned with HPV?” (PR = 1.10 [1.02‒1.19], p = 0.011); “Have you ever sought health care due to concerns about HPV?” (PR = 1.09 [1.04‒1.14], p < 0.001); “Do you know what a Pap Smear is?” (PR = 1.24 [1.13‒1.36], p < 0.001); “Do you know what the cervix is?” (PR = 1.23 [1.13‒1.34], p < 0.001); “Do you know what cervical cancer is?” (PR = 1.13 [1.04‒1.22], p = 0.004).

Conclusions: The present results show that adolescents from public schools in poor communities in São Paulo City know little about HPV and cervical cancer. Male adolescents know less than female adolescents and are less concerned with health care.

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Published

2022-11-17

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Soares Junior, J. M., Oliveira, H. M. C. de, Luquetti, C. M., Zuchelo, L. T. S., Veiga, E. C. de A., Raimundo, J. Z., Figueiredo, F. W. dos S., Alves, M. S., Sorpreso, I. C. E., & Baracat, E. C. (2022). Adolescents’ knowledge of HPV and sexually transmitted infections at public high schools in São Paulo: A cross-sectional study. Clinics, 77, 100138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100138