Keywords
anti-HPV vaccine
acceptability
Abstract
Objectives: Epidemiological and biological arguments put papillomavirus infection (HPV) as a determining factor in the etiology of cervical cancer. The main aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to HPV prevention and cervical cancer screening among women living in the city of Sousse, Tunisia.
Methods: Five hundred self-administered questionnaires were distributed to randomly selected women in the general population. These questionnaires were administrated through direct interview of patients visiting the outpatient clinics in “Farhat Hached Hospital” and in the waiting area of the National Health Insurance Fund – CNAM from May to June 2016.
Results: Four hundred fifty-two participants took part in this study. The knowledge of the sexually transmitted infection as an etiological agent for cervical cancer was expressed by only 175 (38,7%)women and the correct recommended frequency for the Pap smear test by 176 (38,9%) of the respondents. Among all the participants, 125 (27,7%) had already received the Pap smear test at least once in a lifetime. Despite that, 363 (80,3%) of the respondents were interested in the anti-HPV vaccine for themselves, 387 (86%) for their daughters and 405 (90%) by the introduction of the vaccine in the national program of vaccination.
Conclusion: The knowledge of HPV infection and cervical cancer among Tunisian women was found to be low to moderate and the anti-HPV infection was found to be moderate to high. These results are concordant with the results of other studies conducted in other MENA countries.
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