Knowledge and awareness regarding HPV infection and PAP smear screening in reproductive aged females of rural India.

ConclusionThe study reported a high prevalence of HPV infection in rural women attending the Gynaecology and Cancer OPD of a tertiary care hospital. Several important risk factors for the HPV infection were also identified. These were early age at marriage, lack of education, increased parity, early age at first pregnancy, poor sanitation, use of tobacco and belonging to below poverty line. These findings call for more efforts to increase awareness pertaining to HPV infection and cervical cancer among rural women.
Source: Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health - Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research