Survey of knowledge and attitude regarding human papillomavirus and its prevention in patients referred to Miyaneh health centers in 2019

Abstract

Introduction: One of the most common sexually transmitted diseases is human papillomavirus, the most common cancers of which are cervical cancer in women and oral and throat cancer in both sexes. By determining the level of knowledge and attitude of people about this virus, the most appropriate strategy in effective intervention planning can be developed. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of patients in human health centers with human papillomavirus and its prevention in 1398. Methods: The present study is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study that was conducted in 1398 in Miyaneh. The study population consisted of 18-59 year olds referring to health centers who were selected as a sample by the available method of 300 people who met the inclusion criteria. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire that after confirming the validity and Reliability was used. This questionnaire was in two parts of knowledge with 29 questions and attitude with 16 questions. The data obtained from the questionnaire were at two levels of recommended statistics including mean, frequency distribution, percentage and standard deviation and inferential statistics including ANOVA test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean score of attitude with 57.57± 7.81 was higher than the score of knowledge with 8.94± 6.63. Meanwhile, women's knowledge and attitude scores were higher than men with an average of 9.49±6.84 and 58.56±7.86. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and gender, knowledge and attitude with the type of job and level of education (p≤0.05), while there was no statistically significant relationship between attitude with gender and knowledge and attitude with marital status (p≥0.050). Conclusion: Due to the low score of knowledge and attitude among men, it is suggested that educational programs be developed to raise citizens' awareness in health centers and create a more positive attitude towards ways to prevent it by raising awareness, in other words by increasing Awareness increases people's interest in changing non-health