Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Rural Adolescent Females: Knowledge, Protected Sex, and Sexual Risk Behaviors

• Main Authors: Janet F. Wang (Author), Patricia S. Simoni (Author), Ying Wu (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Rural Nurse Organization; Binghamton University, 2006-06-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1539-3399; 10.14574/ojrnhc.v6i1.168
• Keywords: Nursing; RT1-120; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, Vol 6, Iss 1, Pp 74-88 (2006)

Reduction of cervical cancer morbidity/mortality relies on prevention and early detection of human papillomavirus (HPV). This study examined HPV knowledge, attitudes toward protected sex, and sexual risk behaviors among rural female adolescents, through cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample (n = 159). Data analysis, via the Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS), identified a sexually active sample (64%) with limited knowledge regarding effective sexual protection or HPV. Subjects living with both parents were (a) less knowledgeable about HPV than those living with single parents (b = -2.05, p = 0.035), as well as (b) less likely to be sexually active than those in other living arrangements (55% vs 77%, p = .0082). These findings suggest that the adolescent-parent relationship warrants further exploration in increasing knowledge regarding risk and reducing exposure to HPV.