title: HPV knowledge and impact of genital warts on self esteem and sexual life in Colombian patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information on HPV knowledge in patients with genital warts is scarse as is the information on factors related to the impact on self-esteem and sex life among them.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study in adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of genital warts (GW) attending a major private out-patient clinic in Bogotá, Colombia. Patients underwent biopsy for pathological diagnosis, HPV-DNA testing and completed a questionnaire assessing HPV knowledge, and the consequences of GW on self-esteem and sexual life. Differences in proportions were assessed with a chi2 test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  106 men and 155 women had pathologic confirmation of GW. 51% of subjects had heard of HPV before consultation coming mainly from the media (82%). Less than half of the participants knew that HPV could be transmitted through non-penetrant sexual intercourse and only two thirds acknowledged HPV vaccine as a preventive measure against HPV infection. Impact on self-esteem was higher among women than men (90.3% vs 60.4%, [p < 0.01]). In men, factors related to a higher impact on sexual life were HPV awareness and age; in women they were higher education and anatomic location; external GW had a higher impact on sexual life in women (83% vs. 66%; [p = 0.05]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a low awareness of HPV and low knowledge on the vaccine as a preventive measure for associated diseases even in patients suffering from genital warts, highlighting the need for communication and education on HPV. Greater impact on self-esteem in women might reflect higher health consciousness among Latin American women.
authors.affiliation: Fundación para la Investigación y el Desarrollo, Bogotá, DC, Colombia. mapinerosp@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piñeros
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hernández-Suárez
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orjuela
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires