The teenagers’ knowledge schooled about the human papilloma virus

Abstract

Objective: analyze the knowledge of adolescents enrolled in schooling about the transmission, prevention, screening and oncogenicity of human papillomavirus (HPV) in their sexual and reproductive lives. Methodology: this is a quantitative research. A total of 167 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years who had parental authorization and spontaneously wanted to participate participated in the study. The instrument of data collection was a questionnaire composed of 50 questions. The quantitative analysis was made through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program. Results: the data indicated that adolescents lack knowledge about HPV, as well as lack of information on preventive measures, HPV vaccine, and preventive screening, which indicates the relevance of promoting health, based on education supported by innovative and participatory teaching methods that motivate adolescents' interaction and awareness about the importance of preventing sexually transmitted infections and other vulnerabilities characteristic of the adolescence. Conclusion: it is necessary to articulate intersectoral and interdisciplinary strategies to achieve changes through an internal process in which the knowledge acquisition will provide space for the construction and modification of knowledge, understanding that health education involves not only cognition, but also the affectivity of the adolescents propitiating the self-care with consequent improvement of the quality of life.

Keywords: Adolescent; Sexuality; Human Papilloma Virus; Education.