Research Article, J Addict Behav Ther Rehabil Vol: 4 Issue: 5
Knowledge of HPV among HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Adolescent Women in South Africa
| David C. Griffith1*, David Adler2, Melissa Wallace3, Thola Bennie3, Beau Abar2 and Linda-Gail Bekker3 | |
| 1Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Rochester, Rochester NY, USA | |
| 2601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 655, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14534, USA | |
| 3Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Diseases & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa | |
| Corresponding author : David C. Griffith, MD Johns Hopkins Hospital, 200 N. Wolfe Street, Rm 3155, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA Tel: 410-614-3917; Fax: 410-614-1491 E-mail: dgriff50@jhmi.edu |
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| Received: April 29, 2015 Accepted: September 21, 2015 Published: September 23, 2015 | |
| Citation: Griffith DC, Adler D, Wallace M, Bennie T, Abar B, et al. (2015) Knowledge of HPV among HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Adolescent Women in South Africa. J Womens Health, Issues Care 4:5. doi:10.4172/2325-9795.1000203 |
Abstract
Knowledge of HPV among HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Adolescent Women in South Africa
Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer among HIVinfected and HIV-uninfected female adolescents in South Africa. Methods: Subjects were recruited from a parent study of HPV infection comprised of females ages 16-21 in Masiphumelele, Cape Town, South Africa. A total of 30 subjects, 15 HIV-infected and 15 HIV-uninfected, were selected via randomization and completed a measure of HPV knowledge, based on a previously validated instrument. The study took place in May 2013. Results: The overall mean score on the measure for all subjects was 43.3% (S.D. 10.9). There was no significant difference in HPV knowledge between the HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected groups. Based on results from a previous large-scale study using the same validated measure, this sample scored significantly worse on general HPV knowledge than samples from the US, UK, and Australia. Conclusion: Given the limited knowledge of HPV in this sample, there is greater need for education about the prevention of cervical cancer, specifically among high-risk adolescent women.
