Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescents regarding human papillomavirus.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescent students from public schools in the municipality of Teresina, state of Piauí, regarding human papillomavirus (HPV). METHODS: Cross-sectional, analytical study carried out in 12 public schools in the municipality of Teresina, with a random sample of 472 15-year-old adolescents. All participants answered a validated questionnaire, which evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, level of knowledge about HPV, attitudes regarding vaccination and vaccination status. The levels of knowledge and attitude were classified by standardized scores and practice by the vaccination situation. The analyses were carried out using the SPSS software. In the bivariate analysis, simple logistic regression was used generating odds ratios to identify the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude with HPV prevention practice. Variables that presented p-value ≤ 0.20 in the bivariate analysis were inserted in a multivariate logistic regression model. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Among the participants, 27.3% had sufficient knowledge, 34.1% had positive attitudes, and 74.6% had adequate practice. In the multivariate analysis, we observed a statistically significant association among females (ORa = 15.62; 95%CI: 9.08-26.9), satisfactory knowledge (ORa = 2.09; 95%CI: 1.15-3.81), and positive attitudes (ORa = 1.89; 95%CI: 1.10-3.23) with proper practice. CONCLUSIONS: Being female, having a satisfactory level of knowledge about HPV and the vaccine, and having positive attitudes towards HPV vaccination reinforce the appropriate practice of vaccination. These findings demonstrate the need to expand the knowledge of adolescents, generating positive attitudes towards vaccination within an appropriate perspective.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescents regarding human papillomavirus / Conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas de adolescentes sobre o papilomavírus humano

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To analyze knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescent students from public schools in the municipality of Teresina, state of Piauí, regarding human papillomavirus (HPV). METHODS Cross-sectional, analytical study carried out in 12 public schools in the municipality of Teresina, with a random sample of 472 15-year-old adolescents. All participants answered a validated questionnaire, which evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, level of knowledge about HPV, attitudes regarding vaccination and vaccination status. The levels of knowledge and attitude were classified by standardized scores and practice by the vaccination situation. The analyses were carried out using the SPSS software. In the bivariate analysis, simple logistic regression was used generating odds ratios to identify the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude with HPV prevention practice. Variables that presented p-value ≤ 0.20 in the bivariate analysis were inserted in a multivariate logistic regression model. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS Among the participants, 27.3% had sufficient knowledge, 34.1% had positive attitudes, and 74.6% had adequate practice. In the multivariate analysis, we observed a statistically significant association among females (ORa = 15.62; 95%CI: 9.08-26.9), satisfactory knowledge (ORa = 2.09; 95%CI: 1.15-3.81), and positive attitudes (ORa = 1.89; 95%CI: 1.10-3.23) with proper practice. CONCLUSIONS Being female, having a satisfactory level of knowledge about HPV and the vaccine, and having positive attitudes towards HPV vaccination reinforce the appropriate practice of vaccination. These findings demonstrate the need to expand the knowledge of adolescents, generating positive attitudes towards vaccination within an appropriate perspective.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Analisar conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas de adolescentes estudantes de escolas públicas do município de Teresina-PI sobre o papilomavírus humano (HPV). MÉTODOS Estudo transversal, analítico, realizado em 12 escolas da rede pública do município de Teresina, com uma amostra aleatória de 472 adolescentes de 15 anos. Todos os participantes responderam a um questionário validado, que avaliou as características sociodemográficas, o nível de conhecimento sobre o HPV, atitudes relacionadas à vacinação e ao status vacinal. Os níveis de conhecimento e atitude foram classificados por meio de escores padronizados e a prática mediante a situação vacinal. As análises foram realizadas com o uso do SPSS. Na análise bivariada, utilizou-se a regressão logística simples, por meio de odds ratio para identificar as associações entre as características sociodemográficas e o conhecimento, e a atitude com a prática de prevenção contra o HPV. As variáveis que na análise bivariada apresentaram valor de p ≤ 0,20 foram submetidas ao modelo multivariado de regressão logística. A significância estatística foi fixada em p < 0,05. RESULTADOS Dentre os participantes, 27,3% apresentaram conhecimento suficiente, 34,1% atitudes positivas e 74,6% prática adequada. Na análise multivariada observou-se associação estatisticamente significativa entre o sexo feminino (ORa = 15,62; IC95%: 9,08-26,9), conhecimento satisfatório (ORa = 2,09; IC95%: 1,15-3,81), e atitudes positivas (ORa = 1,89; IC95%: 1,10-3,23) com a prática adequada. CONCLUSÕES Ser do sexo feminino, ter nível de conhecimento sobre o HPV e a vacina classificados como satisfatório, bem como ter atitudes positivas frente à vacinação contra o HPV reforçam a prática adequada de vacinação. Estes achados demonstram a necessidade de ampliar o conhecimento dos adolescentes, gerando atitudes positivas com vistas à vacinação dentro de uma perspectiva adequada.