<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> To assess awareness and attitudes regarding HPV, HPV-vaccines, use of condom and participation in pap-smear screening among high-school students in Uppsala County. The intention was also to investigate if there were any differences between students at theoretical programmes and vocational programmes.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> 608 students from seven high-schools in Uppsala County answered a questionnaire covering demographics, awareness and attitudes regarding HPV, HPV-vaccine, use of condoms and pap-smear tests.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> A majority of the students had never heard of HPV (86 %, n=521), HPV-vaccine (94 %, n=537) or the link between HPV and cervical cancer (88 %, n=563). Most respondents had a positive attitude towards HPV-vaccine (84 %, n=508), but the biggest obstacle was the high cost (37 %, n=227). The students believed that it was less likely that they would use a condom with a new partner if vaccinated (mean=78, SD=26, p<0.001), or if they or their partner used contraceptive pills (mean=62, SD=32, p<0.001) compared to how likely it was that they would use a condom in general with a new partner. The girls rated the probability that they would participate in a pap-smear screening as relatively low if vaccinated (mean=59 SD=27). Students at theoretical programmes had better knowledge about HPV and HPV-vaccines. They were also more positive to the use of condoms and participation in pap-smear screening. Furthermore, more students at theoretical programmes (11%, n=46) than at vocational programmes (9%, n=16) planned to be vaccinated (<em>p</em>=0.048).</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The awareness regarding HPV and HPV-vaccine was low among high school students in Uppsala County, especially among students at vocational programmes. More information is required to increase the awareness and motivation to use condoms and participate in pap-smear screening.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA/oai:DiVA.org:uu-105454 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Nilsson, Jenny, Hävermark, Elisabeth |
| Publisher | Uppsala University, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, text |
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