Knowledge of rural women about human papillomavirus

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the knowledge of women in a rural area about human papillomavirus and ways of prevention. METHOD: descriptive exploratory study with a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in October 2017 with 43 women registered in a Family Health Unit located in the rural area of the municipality of São João do Rio do Peixe, Paraiba. Bardin's content analysis technique was used. RESULTS: From the data obtained in the research, three categories emerged: Women's knowledge about the human papillomavirus (HPV); guidance received from the perspective of women; and forms of prevention used by women against HPV. Understanding about HPV is permeated by the lack of instruction about the virus, although most interviewees recognize condoms as an important way of prevention, even reporting that they have not received adequate guidance on HPV by the staff of the Family Health Unit that attends in the community. CONCLUSION: It was identified a deficit in the knowledge of women in that rural area about the human papillomavirus, mainly regarding the form of transmission, its causes and precautions for prevention. It is up to the health team to develop new health education strategies on HPV so that the community has better information related to disease prevention.