Acceptability and uptake of HPV vaccination in Argentina: results from a population-based study

ARROSSI S; MACEIRA V; PAOLINO M

Congreso; The 28th International Human Papiloma Virus Conference; 2012

OBJECTIVES 1) To analyze socio-economic and reproductive health determinants of women?s knowledge on HPV and 2) to analyze level of knowledge about HPV infection, among a population sample of women aged 18-49, living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHOD We carried out a population-based survey among a representative sample of 1200 women aged 18-49 years from the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. A face-to-face interview was performed using a structured questionnaire that included questions about HPV infection (transmission, consequences, symptoms, and treatment), socio-economic and reproductive health characteristics. We constructed a global measure of knowledge about HPV infection. To do that all true answers to questions about HPV infection were categorized as adequate. A woman was considered to have an adequate level of knowledge if she had heard about HPV and had at least two adequate responses about HPV infection. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the effects of the socio-economic and reproductive health characteristics of women on knowledge about HPV, by estimating odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).  RESULTS Of the1200 interviewed women, 19.6% had adequate knowledge about HPV. In multivariate analysis, women with secondary complete/tertiary incomplete level of education (OR: 1.8 95%CI: 1.3-2.6) or tertiary complete (OR: 3.5 95%CI: 2.3-5.4), who were from a high socio-economic level (OR: 1.5 95%CI: 1.1-2.0) and who had had Pap smears in the previous three years (OR: 2.3 95%CI: 1.4-3.7) were more likely to have adequate knowledge about HPV. When women who had heard about HPV (n=679) were asked about how the virus is transmitted, 80.1% mentioned through sexual contact, 21.3% through blood, and 15.6% through skin-to-skin contact. 39.6% of women answered that HPV cause cervical cancer. When asked if they considered that HPV produced symptoms, 33.2% answered Yes, and 30.6% did not know. When women who considered that HPV produces symptoms were asked what type of symptoms, 47.6% answered pain, fever or inflammation. 78.3% (n=532) of women considered that HPV infection can be treated.  IMPLICATIONS AND IMPACT Lack of knowledge about HPV is a potential barrier to screening and vaccination. Education raises awareness of the importance of preventive health care and, hence, the willingness to avail of it; it may also improve understanding of information, extent of communication with the health practitioner and interpretation of results. These data underscore that the introduction of a new technology based on HPV (e.g. HPV test or HPV vaccine) must be preceded by specific outreach education/communication strategies, especially among women from lower socio-economic levels.