CONHECIMENTO DE ENFERMEIRAS ACERCA DA VACINA ANTI-HPV, INFECÇÃO PELO HPV E CÂNCER DO COLO UTERINO

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional cohort study, descriptive with quantitative approach, performed in Public Health Units of cities inside of Bahia, Brazil, with 33 professionals. Data were collected through a multiple-choice questionnaire that intended to investigate the knowledge of the anti-HPV vaccine, HPV infection and cervical cancer, as well as seek association between knowledge with time and institution of training, participation in continuing education and hours worked per week. Data were analyzed using the SPSS® statistical package, version 23. It was adopted a level of significance of 5% (p <0.05). For the verification of possible associations, it was adopted the Pearson's chi-square (χ2) using the verisimilitude ratio coefficients. The results showed nurses with an average age of 30.6 (± 7.3) years; more than 80% from private institution; 51.5% with training time between 2 and 5 years; 84.8% with participation at permanent education; 39.4% with a work load of over 40 hours. All of them knew of the HPV virus and the sexual transmission. However, few knew the other forms of transmission, the effectiveness of condoms, classification and purpose of the Pap test. 90.9% of Nurses understood the role of HPV in the genesis of cervical cancer and genital warts. 97.0% knew the anti-HPV vaccine, but 51.5% thought that only women could be immunized. There was no significant association between time and institution of training, participation in permanent education, as well as hours of weekly work with the knowledge of these professionals on the subject. The study revealed that the nurses have divergent knowledge about the anti-HPV vaccine, HPV infection and cervical cancer, which justifies the needing for improvement of these professionals.