What teens know about HPV? A cross-sectional study with HBSC Portuguese survey

© 2016 Apex Journal InternationalGlobally, cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of death for women and is usually associated with infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV). To analyse knowledge related to HPV in Portuguese adolescents, and identify the influence of gender, school year, having had sexual education/sexual intercourse in adolescents’ knowledge of HPV. The 2010 study provides national representative data of 5050 Portuguese adolescents, randomly chosen from those attending 6th, 8th and 10th grades during the 2009/2010 academic year. The sample included 52.3% girls and 47.7% males; whose mean age was 14.0 years old. Measures included knowledge of HPV transmission/prevention and having had sexual education/sexual intercourse. Overall, results showed the majority had low level of knowledge, responding incorrectly or saying they did not know the answer. Nevertheless, girls and adolescents who reported having had sex education in a school context showed significantly more knowledge than boys and adolescents who did not report having had sex education in a school context. Another result that should be emphasized is the positive effect that sex education at school had specifically in what regards knowledge about HPV. These results could have significant implications for information provision andthe targeting of future education programmes. In terms of prevention, it emphasises the need to teach about this issue, encourages HPV vaccination and regular screening for cervical cancer and other STIs, that are crucial for the promotion of healthy sexual behaviours.