ASSESSING WOMEN'S KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS AND ITS PREVENTIVE OPTIONS

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection afflicting over 20 million men and women in the United States alone. Despite the availability of FDA approved HPV vaccine series, HPV continues to be a problem for almost half of the sexually active individuals in the United States. The continued high incidence of HPV could at least partially be due to the documented low vaccination rates in females across the nation. Nationally, only 54% of females who qualified for the vaccine series received at least one vaccine and, only one third of these females actually completed the full vaccine series (CDC, 2012). Low vaccination rates could be related to lack of knowledge among young women about HPV vaccines or due to failure of healthcare providers in promoting the vaccines among these women. The purpose of this study was to assess the current knowledge and/or knowledge deficit of HPV and the awareness of the availability of HPV preventive options in women ages 18-26 in two clinical sites in Southern California. The specific aims of this study were to; (a) explore participants current HPV knowledge, (b) explore barriers that prevent women from receiving HPV vaccine(s), and (c) compare the vaccination rate in the study population against the national average. This descriptive correlational study was conducted at two clinical sites. Women (n=309) at these sites completed a survey regarding their knowledge and belief of HPV. Data was analyzed using generalized linear models. We implemented multiple data manipulation steps that included various ways of recoding categorical variables, ensuring iv unidirectional effects on the covariates and obtained an average among multiple closely related questions. Results from separate univariate logistic regression models showed that age and education were the only significant predictors of HPV vaccination uptake (p < 0.02). Having a pap smear was also a significant predictor of vaccine uptake (p < 0.03). Results also revealed HPV awareness, knowledge of HPV being a STI, HPV vaccine awareness, and having been told about HPV vaccine by a nurse or a doctor all attained statistical significance (p < 0.001). Belief that HPV vaccine would be helpful and belief that HPV could be a problem showed statistical significance (p < 0.001) and were also predictors of vaccine uptake in this sample. Taken together results revealed women lack knowledge about HPV and the potential sequelae that could follow. Low vaccine uptake and lack of HPV knowledge were apparent in this study population. Better screening procedures and need for healthcare providers to advocate for women and vaccine programs that offer HPV vaccine series to all women who qualify.