Archives of Public Health

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2022): Arch Pub Health
Public Health

Knowledge about human papillomavirus and associated factors among population in the Republic of Kosova

OnlineFirst pdf 21-33
  • Ernad Kosumi,
  • Viktor Isjanovski,
  • Mome Spasovski
Ernad Kosumi
University Clinical Center оf Kosova, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pristina, Kosova
Viktor Isjanovski
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Medicine, Republic of North Macedonia
Mome Spasovski
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Social Medicine, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3889/aph.2022.6059

Published 2022-12-30

Keywords

  • human papillomavirus,
  • cancer,
  • Republic of Kosova,
  • knowledge

How to Cite

1.
Kosumi E, Isjanovski V, Spasovski M. Knowledge about human papillomavirus and associated factors among population in the Republic of Kosova. Arch Pub Health [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 30 [cited 2024 Apr. 25];14(2):21-33. Available from: https://id-press.eu/aph/article/view/6059

Copyright (c) 2022 Ernad Kosumi, Viktor Isjanovski, Mome Spasovski

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Above 70% of sexually active women and men will be infected with human papilloma irus at some point in their lives, and several may yet be infected in more than one circumstance. Around 80% of sexually active women acquire HPV infection, while for the most part, they are asymptomatic with the immune system-mediated clearance of contagion within 6–12 months. High-risk papillomavirus is accountable for causing cancer associated with the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, penis, and oropharynx. This survey aims to investigate the level of knowledge among residents in the Republic of Kosova regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and HPV-associated diseases and to discover the relationship between these factors. Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed by investigating the knowledge concerning HPV infection in the population aged 18 to 35+ years. The study was conducted in the interval from June 2021 - August 2021. The sample included 500 participants. The questionnaire was anonymous, and participants were free to end the participation at any time, without finishing the questionnaire. Results: More than half of the respondents knew about HPV - 70.0%, and 29.6% did not know. Respondents with secondary and higher education showed 18 times more knowledge for HPV (OR = 18.1311 95% CI: 8.7465-37.5852) than respondents with primary education. To the question Can HPV cause cancer of the cervix, 37.2% (n=186) of the respondents gave a correct answer. The results presented that most participants knew what HPV was (70%), but they also revealed that most participants had low or moderate knowledge about HPV, which was a comparable result with earlier studies. A small number of participants in this survey knew that HPV could heal by itself (12.8%), which was similar to results presented in other surveys. Conclusions: It is important to improve the inadequate knowledge about HPV among the population in the Republic of Kosova. In order to do that, it could be significant to assess which factors affect the knowledge so that young women and all adolescents will get pushed to use protective measures against cervical cancer and have protected sexual behaviour.

OnlineFirst pdf 21-33

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

  1. zur Hausen H. Papillomaviruses in the causation of human cancers - a brief historical account. Virology. 2009;384(2):260-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2008.11.046
  2. WHO: International Agency for Research on Cancer. Cervical cancer: Estimated incidence, mortality and prevalence worldwide in 2012. In: The GLOBOCAN 2012 Database. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; [Accessed: July 15, 2018]
  3. Satterwhite CL, Torrone E, Meites E, et al. Sexually transmitted infections among US women and men: prevalence and incidence estimates, 2008. Sex Transm Dis 2013; 40:187–93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318286bb53
  4. Bruni L, Barrionuevo-Rosas L, Albero G, et al. Human Papillomavirus and Related Diseases in the World. ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (HPV Information Centre). Summary Report 27 July 2017. Available from: http://www.hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/XWX.pdf. Accessed February 2, 2018.
  5. Zejnullahu, A.Vj. (2017). Prevalence of HPV infection and genotypes in women with normal and abnormal cytological results in Kosovo: clinical and diagnostic impact. Medicus 2017 , 22((2)), 137–147.
  6. Kocjan BJ, Bzhalava D, Forslund O, Dillner J, Poljak M. Molecular methods for identification and characterization of novel papillomaviruses. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 2015;21(9):808-816 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2015.05.011
  7. de Sanjosé S, Brotons M, Pavón MA. The natural history of human papillomavirus infection. Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2018;47:2-13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2017.08.015
  8. Carifi M, Napolitano D, Morandi M, Dall’Olio D. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: Current and future perspectives. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 2015;11:731-738 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S81825
  9. Kelly H, Mayaud P, Segondy M, Pant Pai N, Peeling RW. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating the performance of point-of-care tests for human papillomavirus screening. Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2017;93(S4):S36-S45 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2016-053070
  10. Burd EM. Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2003;16(1):1-17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.16.1.1-17.2003
  11. Ginindza TG, Dlamini X, Almonte M, Herrero R, Jolly PE, Tsoka-Gwegweni JM, et al. Prevalence of and associated risk factors for high risk human papillomavirus among sexually active women, Swaziland. PLoS One. 2017;12(1):e0170189 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170189
  12. Lee CH, Peng CY, Li RN, Chen YC, Tsai HT, Hung YH, et al. Risk evaluation for the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: Development and validation of risk-scoring schemes. International Journal of Cancer. 2015;136(2):340-349 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.28982
  13. Lin C, Franceschi S, Clifford GM. Human papillomavirus types from infection to cancer in the anus, according to sex and HIV status: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2018;18(2):198-206 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30653-9
  14. Knowles S. & Parker M. Female Genital Cancer in Kosovo; a situational analysis of breast and cervical cancer. UNFPA 2008.
  15. Wolniewicz, E. (2016). Cervical cancer - knowledge, prevention and exposure to risk factors among students from various countries. Presented at the ISGE World Congress 2016, Volume: 32, Orlando, USA. https://doi.org/10.3109/09513590.2016.1150635 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/09513590.2016.1150635
  16. "Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Questions and Answers". CDC. 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  17. "What is HPV?". CDC. 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  18. Watson RA (2005). "Human Papillomavirus: Confronting the Epidemic-A Urologist's Perspective". Reviews in Urology. 7 (3): 135–44.
  19. "Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)" (PDF). WRHA. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  20. Charakorn, C., Rattanasiri, S., Lertkhachonsuk, A-A., Thanapprapasr, D., Chittithaworn, S. & Wilailak, S. (2011). Knowledge of Pap smear, HPV and the HPV vaccine and the acceptability of the HPV vaccine by Thai women. Asia–Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 7(2), 160–167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-7563.2011.01392.x
  21. Juntasopeepun, P., Davidson, P.M., Suwan, N., Phianmongkhol, Y. & Srisomboon, J. (2011). Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intention among Young Women in Thailand. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 12(12), 3213-9.
  22. Dahlström, A. L., Sundström, K., Young, C., Lundholm, C., Sparén, P. & Tran, N.T. (2012). Awareness and Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus in the Swedish Adult Population. Journal of Adolescent Health, 50(2), 204–206. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.05.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.05.009
  23. Di Guiseppe, G., Abbate, R., Liguori, G., Albano, L. & Angelillo, I.F. (2008). Human papillomavirus and vaccination: knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intention in adolescents and young women in Italy. British Journal of Cancer, 99(2), 225-229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6604454
  24. Nøhr, B., Munk, C., Tryggvadottir, L., Sparén, P., Tran, N.T., Nygård, M.,...Kjaer, K. S. (2008). Awareness of humanpapilloma virus in a cohort of nearly 70,000 women from four Nordic countries. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica, 87(10), 1048-1054. doi: 10.1080/00016340802326373 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00016340802326373
  25. Rashwan, H., Lubis, S.H. & Ni, K.A. (2009). Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Acceptance of HPV Vaccination among Secondary School Students in Sarawak, Malaysia. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 12(7), 1837-1841.
  26. Tiro, J.A., Meissner, H.I., Kobrin, S. & Chollette, V. (2007). What Do Women in the U.S. Know about Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 16(2), 288-294. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-06-0756 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-06-0756
  27. Gerend, M.A. & Shepherd, J.E. (2011). Correlates of HPV Knowledge in the Era of HPV Vaccination: A Study of Unvaccinated Young Adult Women. Women & Health, 51(1), 25–40. doi: 10.1080/03630242.2011.540744 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2011.540744
  28. World Health Organization. (2011). Human papillomavirus (HPV). World Health Organization. Retrieved 15th February, 2013, from http://www.who.int/nuvi/hpv/en/

Most read articles by the same author(s)