Vilnius city womens’ knowledge about cervical cancer, risk factors and human papilloma virus vaccine

The aim of the research work: to evaluate women‘s awareness about the risk factors of cervical cancer and human papilloma virus vaccine Tasks of work: 1. To evaluate women‘s awareness of about the risk factors of cervical cancer. 2. To determine the sources of the risk factors of cervical cancer and human papilloma virus. 3. To determine the factors that influence women‘s refusal to vaccinate their daughters against human papilloma virus. Research methods. The survey was done in December – February 2016 – 2017 in the public institution Šeškinės Policlinics. All the women respondents who visited Šeškinės Policlinics at that time were included in the survey. In total 203 respondents aged 18–72 took part in the survey. A questionnaire with 14 questions drafted by the author was used to perform the survey. Statistical data analysis was performed using statistical packet for Windows 20, WinPepi 2.75 and OpenEpi programs. Results and conclusions. 1. Risk factors indicated most often: human papilloma virus infection (n=144; 70.9%), sexually transmitted diseases (n=159; 78.3%) and the changes occurring in the previously done cervical sample (n=117; 57.6%). The awareness about cervical cancer (CC) risk factors depended on the education (χ2=28.3; p=0,001) and social group (χ2=11.2; p=0.04). The majority knew about the ways of infection with human papilloma virus (n=143; 70.4%), however even one fifth (n=35; 17.2%) think, that human papilloma virus is transmitted through blood and that the condoms fully protect from it (n=45; 22.2%). 71.4% of women regularly undergo cervical cancer tests. 2. More than a half of the respondents (n=118; 58.1%) know that human papilloma virus is included into the children prophylactic vaccination program of Lithuania. Their knowledge depended on the education (χ2=16,68; p=0.001), social status (χ2=15,4; p=0.009) and the number of children in the family (χ2=18,5; p=0.001). The majority of women found out about the CC risk factors from their doctors (family doctor, gynecologist or an obstetrician) (n=87; 42.9%), about the human papilloma virus vaccine – from the media (n=80; 67.8%). 3. The majority of women (n=146; 71.9%) taking part in the survey were against their daughter’s vaccination against HPV vaccine, those being senior aged women (χ2=32,1; p=0.001). Reasons for non – vaccination: not enough information about the vaccination against HPV vaccine (n=34; 23.3%); afraid of the side effects (n=28; 19.2%); did not know that such vaccination exists (n=15; 10.3%). Those who received the information from the medical staff were five times more likely to approve the vaccination (OR=5,31; CI 95%: 2,23–12,70; p=0.001)