title: Knowledge of HPV and HPV Vaccine among Women Ages 19 to 26.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination among women ages 19 to 26 seeking a variety of services at reproductive health centers. A secondary objective was to identify common sources of HPV information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten reproductive health centers enrolled 365 women ages 19 to 26 in a randomized, controlled trial to determine the effect of automated reminder messages on HPV vaccine completion. Using responses from a 61-item self-administered baseline questionnaire completed before initiating the HPV vaccine, this subanalysis assessed participants' knowledge regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of HPV prevention, transmission, and disease outcomes among the study population was highly variable. The mean HPV knowledge score was 11.0 of a possible 19 (SD = 3.8). Most participants (77%) had heard of the HPV vaccine before completing the questionnaire and indicated that their primary sources of information about the vaccine were television ads (61%), health care providers (52%), and friends (45%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a relatively high awareness of the vaccine, specific knowledge regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine varied substantially and participant scores highlighted knowledge gaps among vaccine-eligible young women. Media, health care providers, and friends were identified by participants as sources of information and may influence their knowledge of HPV and the HPV vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, New York. Electronic address: zoe.unger@ppfa.org.
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Abby
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maitra
authors.affiliation: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.affiliation: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Sangita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Devaskar
authors.affiliation: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.affiliation: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, New York; Division of Family Planning, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Ashlesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines