Knowledge and personal beliefs about human papilloma virus infections among nursing professionals
Hafizur Rahman, Annet Thatal, Sumit Kar
Abstract
Background
Persistent infection with high risk type of human papilloma virus (HPV) has been identified as most important risk factor for cancer cervix. Because of high incidence of HPV infections; HPV testing for cervical screening has been recently advocated in many countries.
Aims
The aim of this survey was assess knowledge and personal beliefs about (HPV) infection among female nursing professionals.
Methods
Between April 2012 and February 2013, a pre-designed, pretested, self-administered multiple responses questionnaire survey was conducted among female staff nurses’ working in the hospitals of Sikkim.
Results
Overall, 72.6 per cent nursing staff responded that they had ever heard of HPV. An association between HPV infection and cancer cervix was aware by only 62.3 per cent nursing staff. Actual knowledge about HPV was poor. Only 23 per cent nursing staff knew that high risk HPV type 16, 18 causes most (70 per cent) of the cervical cancers. Only 16.7 per cent (n=43) nursing staff had adequate knowledge about HPV. Age was the only significant predictor (p < 0.0001) which determined awareness of HPV infection with nursing staff in their 20–30s were more likely to be aware of HPV infection. Stigmatizing beliefs about HPV infection was common with 63 per cent participants believed that infected individuals are to blame themselves for causing their own infection while 17.5 per cent maintained their belief that one should keep a social distance from those who are infected.
Conclusion
There is an urgent need for well-designed HPV education program integrated into a national cervical cancer control program and incorporation of updated detailed information in nurses existing curriculum.
Full Text:
Persistent infection with high risk type of human papilloma virus (HPV) has been identified as most important risk factor for cancer cervix. Because of high incidence of HPV infections; HPV testing for cervical screening has been recently advocated in many countries.
Aims
The aim of this survey was assess knowledge and personal beliefs about (HPV) infection among female nursing professionals.
Methods
Between April 2012 and February 2013, a pre-designed, pretested, self-administered multiple responses questionnaire survey was conducted among female staff nurses’ working in the hospitals of Sikkim.
Results
Overall, 72.6 per cent nursing staff responded that they had ever heard of HPV. An association between HPV infection and cancer cervix was aware by only 62.3 per cent nursing staff. Actual knowledge about HPV was poor. Only 23 per cent nursing staff knew that high risk HPV type 16, 18 causes most (70 per cent) of the cervical cancers. Only 16.7 per cent (n=43) nursing staff had adequate knowledge about HPV. Age was the only significant predictor (p < 0.0001) which determined awareness of HPV infection with nursing staff in their 20–30s were more likely to be aware of HPV infection. Stigmatizing beliefs about HPV infection was common with 63 per cent participants believed that infected individuals are to blame themselves for causing their own infection while 17.5 per cent maintained their belief that one should keep a social distance from those who are infected.
Conclusion
There is an urgent need for well-designed HPV education program integrated into a national cervical cancer control program and incorporation of updated detailed information in nurses existing curriculum.
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