title: Awareness and knowledge about human papillomavirus among Latina immigrants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have examined associations with the public's awareness and knowledge of the human papillomavirus (HPV) among Latina immigrants. The primary purpose of this study was to assess HPV awareness and knowledge, while examining demographic and healthcare utilization associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2007-2009 as part of a larger randomized control trial, 543 Latina immigrants living in Birmingham, Alabama completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 47% of the participants were aware of HPV. Women aged 40-50 years were more likely to be aware of HPV than women 19 to 29 (odds ratio [OR] 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34, 4.78). Having a Pap smear in the past year was associated with awareness (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.14, 2.90). Among those aware of HPV, the mean knowledge score was 7.5 out of 11. Deficiencies in knowledge were noted for vaccinations, genital warts, and the clearing of HPV without treatment. Multivariable analysis found a Pap smear in the past year (OR 4.10; 95% CI 1.93, 8.69), and number of HPV information sources (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.09, 1.75) significantly associated with higher knowledge. Also, women aged 30 to 39 years and 40 to 50 were more likely to have higher HPV knowledge than those 19 to 29 (OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.35, 5.17 and OR 4.46; 95% CI 1.53, 12.98, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Less than half of the participants were aware of HPV. However, among those aware, knowledge scores were high. Age and having a Pap smear within the last year were associated with HPV awareness and knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. jdrewry@uab.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drewry
authors.forename: Isabel C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Garcés-Palacio
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Scarinci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult