Psychosocial impact of positive Human Papillomavirus testing in Jujuy, Argentina results from the Psycho-Estampa Study

ARROSSI SILVINA; ALMONTE, MARIBEL; HERRERO, ROLANDO; GAGO, JUAN; SANCHEZ ANTELO VICTORIA; SZWARC, LUCILA; THOUYARET, LAURA; MELISA, PAOLINO; WIESNER, CAROLINA

Congreso; 33 Conference of the International Papillomavirus Society; 2020

HPV-testing can have a negative impact on women lives including fear of cancer, disease denial and worries about sexuality. This study was aimed at measuring the psycho-social impact of HPV-positivity among HPV-tested women from Jujuy, Argentina. In this cross-sectional study carried out between 2015 and 2016, the psycho-social impact of HPV-positivity was measured using the Psycho-Estampa Scale, specifically designed and validated to be used in Latin American settings. We measured mean scores for each of the five scale domains, and the total Impact score (Values from 1: No impact to 4: Heavy impact). We also compared scores according to Pap triage diagnosis using ordinal logistic regression.A total of 163 HPV-positive women were included in the study sample. Mean age was 38 years (SD = 8 years). Most women had higher (N = 53.4%) or secondary (36.8%) level of education. 124 women (76.1%) had negative Pap smears. Total Impact score was 2.53, SD:0.65. The domain Worries about cancer and treatment had the highest score (mean: 3.6, SD:0.5), followed by Sexuality domain (mean:2.5; SD:1). The Domain “Uncertainty about information provided by health providers” had the lower score: mean 2.14, SD:0.73. Moderate values were observed in domains referred to Repercussions on the family (mean:2.27, SD:2.3) and Emotional symptoms (mean:2.3; SD:0.82). The odds of having higher negative psychosocial impact among women with abnormal Paps was 2.9 (95%CI:1.43- 6.07 p=0.0036). One unit increase in age (year) was associated with a reduced likelihood of having a higher total psycho-social impact (OR:0.95; p=0.036, CI=0.92-0.99). No statistically significant differences were found in scores of specific domains according to cytology results.As the psycho-social impact of HPV-positivity can not only result in reduced quality of life but it can also influence women adherence to follow-up and treatment, specific counseling interventions to reduce it are needed.