The knowledge and attitudes of parents applying to family healthbcenters about cervical cancer and human papilloma virus summary

Cancer is one of the most significant public health issues globally. According to research conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2020, breast cancer was identified as the most common cancer among women, while cervical cancer ranks fourth. The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is HPV (Human Papillomavirus). Cervical cancer is a disease that can be diagnosed early, treated, and prevented, making it essential to assess parents' knowledge on this topic. Our study was conducted as a cross-sectional and descriptive study involving 388 parents of children aged 7-18 who applied to 23 family health centers in Edirne and agreed to participate. After obtaining ethical approval (Appendix 1) and approval from the Edirne Provincial Health Directorate (Appendix 2), the study was carried out between August 1, 2023, and December 29, 2023. Data was collected using a questionnaire, which included questions about sociodemographic information, knowledge of cervical cancer, knowledge about HPV, and attitudes towards the HPV vaccine. Additionally, the Human Papillomavirus Knowledge Scale (HPV-KS) was included, with permission from the scale's owner. Descriptive statistical methods, Chi-Square, Kruskal-Wallis, and One-way ANOVA tests were used for analysis. Among the participating parents, 81.44% were mothers and 18.56% were fathers, with an average age of 38.84 ± 6.8 years. Additionally, 40.46% had a university degree or higher, 27.84% had income exceeding their expenses, 36.86% were smokers, and 76.03% were aware of sexually transmitted diseases. It was found that 93.3% of parents had heard of cervical cancer, 49.48% knew it was associated with warts, and 18.3% were unaware of HPV. While 79.64% had heard of the PAP smear test, only 55.15% had undergone with it. Moreover, 13.14% of parents had received the HPV vaccine, among them only 7.73% had vaccinated their children. Higher scores on the HPV Knowledge Scale were associated with higher educational levels, being health workers, and having income exceeding expenses, while smokers scored lower in HPV Knowledge Scale. Although 76.03% of participating parents were knowledgeable about sexually transmitted diseases, the rate of those visiting for annual check-ups was only 17.53%. Most parents (93.3%) had heard of cervical cancer, primarily obtaining information from TV and the internet, followed by family health centers. The majority indicated they would consider getting the HPV vaccine if recommended by a doctor, and many would get it if it were free. Keywords: Human Papillomavirus, Cervical Cancer, HPV Vaccine