HPV knowledge and impact of genital warts on self esteem and sexual life in Colombian patients

Abstract

BackgroundInformation on HPV knowledge in patients with genital warts is scarse as is the information on factors related to the impact on self-esteem and sex life among them.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of genital warts (GW) attending a major private out-patient clinic in Bogotá, Colombia. Patients underwent biopsy for pathological diagnosis, HPV-DNA testing and completed a questionnaire assessing HPV knowledge, and the consequences of GW on self-esteem and sexual life. Differences in proportions were assessed with a chi2 test.Results106 men and 155 women had pathologic confirmation of GW. 51% of subjects had heard of HPV before consultation coming mainly from the media (82%). Less than half of the participants knew that HPV could be transmitted through non-penetrant sexual intercourse and only two thirds acknowledged HPV vaccine as a preventive measure against HPV infection. Impact on self-esteem was higher among women than men (90.3% vs 60.4%, [p < 0.01]). In men, factors related to a higher impact on sexual life were HPV awareness and age; in women they were higher education and anatomic location; external GW had a higher impact on sexual life in women (83% vs. 66%; [p = 0.05]).ConclusionsWe found a low awareness of HPV and low knowledge on the vaccine as a preventive measure for associated diseases even in patients suffering from genital warts, highlighting the need for communication and education on HPV. Greater impact on self-esteem in women might reflect higher health consciousness among Latin American women.

Attitudes Towards Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination in the Latin American Andean Region

“…The effect of high school or higher education on HPV knowledge is significant (p = 0.006) [32]. Colombians are more likely to learn about HPV and the HPV vaccine from social contacts (72.4%, 44.8%), educational establishments (77.8%, 50%), and the media (82.25%, 59.8%), than from health personnel (53.6%, 42.9%) [11].…”

“…Prior to school-based HPV vaccination in Colombia in 2012, only 44% of Colombian women aged 18-to 69-years-old were aware of HPV, and only 25% of these women were aware of HPV vaccination [11]. Knowledge of CC screening via Pap testing (97.6% of sampled women) did not translate into HPV knowledge [32].…”

“…Greater HPV and HPV vaccine awareness are found in Colombians who are university educated (65.6-69%, 59%), married (58.5%, 45%), or belong to a health maintenance organization (HMO) (53.5%, 44.9%) [11]. Middle or high socioeconomic class Colombian women are more likely to have a high knowledge of HPV than were those of low socioeconomic class (p = 0.002) [32].…”

“…Colombian men experience decreased adverse effects of EGW with increased age and HPV awareness [11]. Colombian women experience more adverse effects of EGW with increased education (correlating with increased age and socio-economic status), and a more prominent location of EGW on the vulva instead of within the vagina [11].…”

“…EGW bear all the negative adverse psychological outcomes of sexually transmitted infections (STI) [11]. Treatment of recurrent EGW has significant human and financial costs in Central and South America [14].…”