Table 3.
Responses to questions about HPV knowledge by the study participants.
| Variable | n (%) | Mean ± SD | Min | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPV transmission (multiple responses accepted) | Sexual intercourse | 409 (45.3) | |||
| Skin-to-skin contact | 116 (12.8) | ||||
| Nonpenetrative sex | 168 (18.6) | ||||
| During birth | 176 (19.5) | ||||
| None of the above | 34 (3.8) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Can you transmit HPV if you are asymptomatic? | Yes | 265 (58.4) | |||
| No | 13 (2.9) | ||||
| Do not know | 176 (38.8) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Can smoking increase the risk of HPV? | Yes | 134 (29.5) | |||
| No | 33 (7.3) | ||||
| Do not know | 287 (63.2) | ||||
|
| |||||
| HPV can cause (multiple responses accepted) | Anal cancer | 136 (12.6) | |||
| Genital warts | 174 (16.1) | ||||
| Cervical cancer | 286 (26.4) | ||||
| Oropharyngeal cancer | 125 (11.5) | ||||
| Penile cancer | 136 (12.6) | ||||
| Prostate cancer | 70 (6.5) | ||||
| Do not know | 156 (14.4) | ||||
| None of the above | 0 (0) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Can HPV lead to infertility? | Yes | 161 (35.5) | |||
| No | 37 (8.1) | ||||
| Do not know | 256 (56.4) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Condom use will reduce the possibility of HPV infection | Yes | 363 (78.9) | |||
| No | 90 (19.8) | ||||
| Do not know | 1 (0.2) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Condom use will completely prevent HPV infection | Yes | 50 (11.0) | |||
| No | 403 (88.8) | ||||
| Do not know | 1 (0.2) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Can circumcision prevent HPV infection and transmission? | Yes | 53 (11.7) | |||
| No | 156 (34.4) | ||||
| Do not know | 245 (54.0) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Multiple sex partners will increase the risk of infection? | Yes | 366 (80.6) | |||
| No | 2 (0.4) | ||||
| Do not know | 86 (18.9) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Will sexual intercourse at an early age increase the likelihood of HPV? | Yes | 162 (35.7) | |||
| No | 81 (17.8) | ||||
| Do not know | 211 (46.5) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Will washing intimal area reduce the risk of HPV? | Yes | 118 (26) | |||
| No | 147 (32.4) | ||||
| Do not know | 189 (41.6) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Is it possible to have asymptomatic HPV infection for many years? | Yes | 266 (58.6) | |||
| No | 9 (2) | ||||
| Do not know | 179 (39.4) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Is there any cure for HPV infection? | Yes | 111 (24.4) | |||
| No | 102 (22.5) | ||||
| Do not know | 241 (53.1) | ||||
|
| |||||
| Can HPV be tested in men? | Yes | 232 (51.1) | |||
| No | 27 (5.9) | ||||
| Do not know | 195 (43.0) | ||||
|
| |||||
| What are the possible screening tests? | PAP smear and HPV testing | 296 (65.2) | |||
| PAP smear alone | 111 (24.4) | ||||
| HPV testing alone | 47 (10.4) | ||||
|
| |||||
| When should HPV screening begin? | Between 21 and 29 | 257 (56.6) | |||
| Younger than 21 | 81 (17.8) | ||||
| Older than 29 | 116 (25.6) | ||||
SD: standard deviation. The correct answers are in bold.