GENITAL HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTIONS - KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTION OF RISK, AND ACTUAL RISK IN A NONCLINIC POPULATION OF YOUNG-WOMEN

The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, beliefs, and attitu des about genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in a group of young women in a nonclinic setting and to examine the association betw een perception of risk and actual risk. One hundred ten women attendin g a state university participated in the study and were asked to compl ete a self-administered questionnaire about knowledge and perceptions of risk. They were then offered testing for the virus using a self-adm inistered vaginal method. The mean age was 20 +/- 1.2 years. Ninety (8 2%) were sexually experienced (SE), with a mean number of lifetime par tners of 5.1 +/- 4.3. The mean knowledge score was less than the 68th percentile, reflecting low levels of knowledge about genital HPV infec tions. The SE group had a higher knowledge score than the sexually ine xperienced (p < .02), but there were no differences in knowledge betwe en those who chose to be tested and those who refused testing. The maj ority of women attributed negative emotion to being hypothetically tes ted positive for HPV. Emotions selected by >50% of the group included feeling scared, angry, guilty, anxious, confused, dirty, regretful, an d panicky. A greater negative emotion score was associated with refusi ng HPV testing (p < .002). Of the SE women, 58% (51) perceived themsel ves at risk, and, of this group, 71% (36) agreed to be tested. Of the women who agreed to HPV testing, 36% who perceived themselves at risk and 35% who did not perceive themselves at risk were, in fact, positiv e for HPV (p = ns). The majority of women have little knowledge of HPV infections and have attributed many negative emotions associated with infectivity. These negative attributes appear to influence women's de cision making concerning HPV testing. The risk of HPV infection in thi s nonclinic group was substantial, suggesting that even in a nonclinic group, the prevalence of HPV is quite high. Perception of risk was un related to actual risk (HPV positive test), reflecting the lack of sel f-identified risk.