Cogitare Enfermagem (Sep 2013)
WOMEN’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CERVICAL CANCER
Abstract
This study aimed to ascertain women’s knowledge regarding the human papilloma virus and its relationship with cervical cancer, how it is transmitted, and its prevention, diagnosis and treatment. This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, undertaken in a health center in Teresina in the state of Piauí, with 126 women, in 2012. It was observed that 71.4% know about the human papilloma virus, but that 63.5 % are unaware of how it is transmitted or prevented, and that 89.7% are unaware of what it provokes in the organism; 96.8% of the interviewees stated that they knew about cervical cancer, but 88.9% do not know what relationship this has with the human papilloma virus. It is concluded that there are shortcomings in these women’s knowledge about the human papilloma virus, how it is prevented and transmitted, and what its relationship is with cervical cancer.
Keywords