HPV immunization: level of knowledge among adolescents

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the adolescent’s knowledge about vaccines against HPV and determine the number of youngsters vaccinated against it. METHODS: Cross-sectional unicentric study with 390 students (ages between 12 and 17 years old) in Itajaí-SC. Data collection made through an objective questionnaire. In addition to the descriptive analysis, the chi-square test (X 2 ) was used and the level of significance was set at p <0.05. RESULTS: Among the 390 participants, 188 were female (average age 14.41 years). 86,92% have reported to know about the vaccine, emphasizing that the frequency of male individuals who said they have never heard about the vaccine was higher than the female (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of the youngsters have heard about the vaccine, but less than half knows that both sexes can be vaccinated. Nearly half of female participants reported having had the vaccine, while only 5% of male participants reported the same. Male gender presented a level of knowledge below the female. In addition, the information from the physicians was mostly cited by female participants.