What women in the United States Virgin Islands still want and need to know about HPV, cervical cancer, and condom use.
Cervical cancer is an infection-related cancer caused primarily by the human papilloma virus. Sexual behavior is a primary risk factor for contracting the genital type of the HPV. While studies have shown that vertical transmission, horizontal transmission, and transmission of the HPV following contact with infected secretions without sexual intercourse are possible, they are not common. The incidence of cervical cancer in the Caribbean is the third highest in the world. This report describes the outcomes of a cross-sectional, mixed methods, exploratory study undertaken to examine questions and concerns about HPV transmission, physical examination, cervical cancer screening, and HPV/cervical cancer risk management among a targeted group of single, unmarried women in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Analysis of the data revealed that the women had many questions and concerns about the origin of HPV infection and cervical cancer, HPV and cervical cancer risk factors, HPV and cervical cancer screening, and HPV and cervical cancer prevention and risk management. Results of the study are used to suggest opportunities for nurses to respond to the questions and concerns posed by the women through the University of the Virgin Islands and within community-based settings.
Underwood
Sandra Millon
SM
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, College of Nursing, 1921 East Hartford, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA. underwoo@uwm.edu
Ramsay-Johnson
Edith
E
Browne
Lois
L
Caines
Natasha
N
Dean
Ashanti
A
Duval
Samantha
S
Ivalis
Ruth
R
Lawrence
Nishel D
ND
Lewis
Nicole
N
Mulkanen
Meseret
M
Pogson
Shenella
S
Stuard
Princess-Onesha
PO
Randolph
Benita
B
Riley
Shalini
S
Ruiz
Melanie
M
Russ
Jori
J
Averhart
LaCreessha
L
De Castro
Tyra
T
Dockery
Rashida
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017280:Condoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D021841:Safe Sex; D012736:Sex Education; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014767:United States Virgin Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology