title: Knowledge of HPV infection and vaccination among vaccinated and unvaccinated teenaged girls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge of teenaged girls on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and vaccination 12 months after the start of a vaccine administration and information campaign.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 15 and June 15, 2009, an anonymous questionnaire was given to 629 girls attending a secondary school in a northeastern Italian city (286 were vaccinated against HPV, 343 were unvaccinated) to investigate their knowledge on HPV infection, transmission, prevention, vaccination, and post-vaccination behaviors. The responses were evaluated with respect to the vaccination status of the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vaccinated teenaged girls had no more knowledge than unvaccinated ones about the route of HPV transmission, and the relationship between HPV and AIDS. Vaccinated girls had less knowledge than unvaccinated girls about preventing transmission by condom (P=0.003) and about the correlation between HPV and penile cancer (P=0.034) and warts (P=0.001). Furthermore, compared with unvaccinated girls, more vaccinated girls believed that contraceptive pills might prevent HPV-related disease (P=0.001). Vaccinated girls better understood the importance of performing regular Pap smears after vaccination (P=0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge on HPV infection and vaccination remains suboptimal, especially among vaccinated teenaged girls, despite a broad information campaign. Misconceptions about the utility of secondary prevention may increase risky sexual behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Oncologic Reference Centre, via Corridoni 11, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sopracordevole
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cigolot
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancioli
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarossi
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boselli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciavattini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D007558:Italy; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines