Knowledge and Behaviors toward Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer in the Women of Reproductive Age in Thailand-Myanmar Border Areas.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Infectious disease is an important health problem in border areas as there is a possibility that the migrants may carry the disease into the area. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and behaviors toward human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer in the women of reproductive age in the Thailand-Myanmar border area. METHODS: A survey study in a population of 418 women of reproductive age in Mae Hong Son Province in the Thailand-Myanmar border area. Knowledge and risk behaviors of HPV and cervical cancer were described using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Fifty percent of the participants had sexual debut at age less than 20 years, 27% had more than one lifetime sexual partner and only 3% had sex outside a monogamous relationship during the past 12 months. In term of knowledge, 62.5% knew about HPV. The proportion of correct answers about HPV and cervical cancer questions ranged from 14-95% and 52-94%, respectively. Among the cervical cancer screening target, 69.4% accessed the screening. The factors associated with better knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer were education level higher than high school and sexual debut. CONCLUSION: The women of reproductive age in the Thailand-Myanmar border areas showed relatively low sexually risk behaviors for HPV infection. More than one-third of the participants did not know about HPV. The percentage of correct answer to questions about cervical cancer were low.  We encourage the Thai Ministry of Public Health to increase health promotion and health literacy on prevention of HPV and cervical cancer in the women of pre- and reproductive age in the Thailand-Myanmar border area.