Awareness and Knowledge About HPV and HPV Vaccine Among Romanian Women

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the most prevalent gynecological malignancies worldwide. Romania has the highest incidence of this type of cancer in Europe. A successful prevention strategy has to consider the primary prevention measures (including health education on human papilloma virus (HPV) infection but also vaccination). The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Romanian women about HPV and HPV vaccine. We conducted a cross-sectional study survey of 454 women using an anonymously completed questionnaire covering the awareness and knowledge of HPV infection and attitudes to vaccination. We also analyzed the discussions and conclusion from a focus group of healthcare professionals regarding (1) HPV and HPV awareness and attitude, and (2) suggestions for improving HPV vaccine knowledge and acceptance. 69.2% of women were aware about HPV but their knowledge was minimal and incomplete. While 62.3% had heard about HPV vaccine, only 50.7% had a positive attitude toward it. The main barriers to vaccination were the fear of side effects, the perception that is risky, and the financial concerns. Deficiencies in knowledge were noted for vaccine, genital warts, or risks factors for HPV infection like the early onset of sexual life. The information regarding HPV and vaccine is not always accurate and complete, and only 50.7% of women have a positive attitude toward the vaccine. More educational programs and clearer communication are needed to raise awareness and knowledge regarding HPV and HPV vaccine.

Knowledge about Cervical Cancer and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine among Female Students from Serbia

“…For example, in other Balkan countries, the situation regarding CC and HPV knowledge is generally quite poor. In Romania, even though the majority of interviewed women had heard of HPV, the level of knowledge was low, especially about risk factors for infection [30]. Likewise, Greek adolescents were also insufficiently informed about risk factors and protection methods against CC [31].…”

“…Research performed in Slovenia [33] that included women of a wide range of ages and research that included adolescents from Greece [31] also noted low awareness of HPV. On the other hand, studies in the UK [35] and in neighboring Romania [30] showed that between two thirds and three quarters of questioned women had heard about HPV. Such a result was also recorded in our study among subjects that finished medical high school and those attending a medical faculty.…”

The Morphological Substrate of the Sensory Pathways - Anatomy, Neurotransmission, Neurochemistry in Intraosseous Anaesthesia

“…Pain is viewed as a subjective phenomenon or as a perception of an unpleasant emotional or sensual experience associated with a current or potential wound. Pain can only be perceived or experimented by an individual when certain impulses reach the level of the conscious mind interpreted as painful [7][8][9][10].…”

Toward a Putative Paradigm Shift in Direct Pulp Capping?

“…During last decade the key dental materials used in direct pulp capping are un-doubtfully the bioactive endodontic cements such as MTA or Biodentine, which are increasingly replacing the old-timer calcium hydroxide since they proved to be both efficient suppressors of prostaglandins and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and upregulators of odontoblast-like cells differentiation or growth factors involved in pulp regeneration [37][38][39].…”

“…Relying on the improvement that bioactive endodontic cements brought in healing ability of pulp injuries, despite the conventional advice of performing the direct pulp capping only in mechanical or traumatic exposure, the vital therapy by this procedure was also successfully extended either in clinical cases of carious exposure having the size of pulp chamber opening up to 2.5 mm or in cases associated with reversible pulpitis, irreversible pulpitis, and even early periapical radiolucency [36,[38][39][40].…”