Awareness of the population about primary prevention of cervical cancer

A proven effective preventive measure against cervical cancer is a full-fledged HPV vaccination course conducted before the start of the patient’s sexual life. Its cost is essential for the realization of the possibility of using the vaccine on a voluntary basis. However, the most important argument for making a decision about vaccination is the awareness of patients about its expediency, effectiveness and safety. P u r p o s e : to identify the level of awareness of the population about the primary prevention of cervical cancer by vaccination against HPV. M a t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s . According to a specially developed questionnaire, an anonymous survey of adolescents and their parents (legal representatives) on the organization of HPV vaccination was conducted. The quota sample for the survey included 723 respondents who applied to women’s consultations and children’s polyclinics in St. Petersburg (a total of 19 medical organizations). R e s u l t s . In fact, only 59,7% of respondents are informed about diseases caused by HPV, and another 5,1% of those who took part in the survey are mistaken about this. Only one in three (36,4%) respondents know about the safety of currently used vaccines, and the majority of respondents – 50,8% noted that they do not know anything about this issue. Among the respondents, 87,8% indicated that given the high importance of vaccination to prevent the development of oncological diseases of the female genital area, HPV vaccinations should be carried out free of charge to citizens within the framework of the National Vaccination Calendar and the calendar of preventive vaccinations for epidemic indications. F i n d i n g s . A sociological study showed an unsatisfactory level of knowledge of the population on the issues of primary prevention of malignant neoplasms of the female genital organs.