[Prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced infections: access of adolescent girls to health care. A population-based, cross-sectional observational study].
BACKGROUND
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common cause of sexually transmitted infections worldwide, and its prevalence is highest among young women aged 17-25 years. It is the principal risk factor for cervical cancer. Systematic vaccination of adolescent girls should significantly reduce the incidence of this disease and its related mortality.


OBJECTIVE
One of the objectives of the Enjeux study, a population-based survey, was to identify the place of young girls within the French health care system to help assess the optimal conditions for implementing anti-HPV vaccination.


METHODS
Data came from 5354 interviews of women aged 18-70 years, 320 of whom provided information about daughters aged 11-14 years and 406 about daughters aged 15-17 years. Among the latter, 318 were also interviewed and 294 completed a self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
The results showed that sexual activity was reported by approximately one third of the girls aged 15-17 years. At-risk behaviors in these girls included insufficient contraception (only 51% use condoms). Data on the medical management of the population of 11-17 year-old girls indicate that they have access to - and are integrated into - the health care system, with frequent medical visits. They see the general practitioner (GP) most frequently, followed by the school doctor. The frequency of general practice visits is similar in both age groups; more than 50% of the girls visit their GP more than twice a year. Vaccination is a frequent reason for these visits; gynecologic reasons are less frequent.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this survey underline the central place of the GP in the health management of young girls aged 11 to 17 years.
Service de médecine interne et des maladies tropicales, Hôpital Saint André - Centre hospitalier universitaire, F-33075 Bordeaux, France. denis.malvy@chu-bordeaux.fr
Denis
D
Malvy
Gilles
G
Grangé
Florian
F
Lançon
Abdelkader
A
El Hasnaoui
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*