Introduction: Epidemiological and biological arguments put papillomavirus infection (HPV) as a determining factor in the etiology of cervical cancer. The main objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to HPV prevention and cervical cancer screening among women living in the city of Sousse, Tunisia.
Methods: Five hundred Tunisian women were interviewed face to face between May and June 2016. The questionnaire consisted in 14 questions relating participants' socio-demographic information, their awareness level, attitudes and practices regarding HPV and cervical cancer, including their understanding of the underlying cervical cancer etiology and preventive actions such as the Pap Smear test, and finally their acceptability and willingness to receive the anti-HPV vaccine under certain circumstances. Multivariate analyses were conducted to identify predictive factors of good acceptability of cervical cancer prevention methods.
Results: Four hundred fifty-two questionnaires were completed and included in the analysis. The awareness of a sexually transmitted infection as an etiological agent for cervical cancer was expressed by 175 (38.7%) participants, the correct finality of the Pap Smear test by 308 (68%) and its recommended frequency by 176 (38.9%) respondents. Among all participants, 125 (27.7%) had undertaken the Pap Smear test at least once in their lifetime, 363 (80.3%) were interested in receiving the anti-HPV vaccine for themselves, 387 (86%) for their daughters and 405 (90%) approved the introduction of the anti-HPV vaccine in the Tunisian national program of vaccination.
Conclusions: The knowledge and awareness of HPV infection and cervical cancer among Tunisian women was found to be moderate (around 40%) and the acceptability of the anti-HPV vaccine was found to be high (over 80%). These results are concordant with the results of other studies conducted in other MENA countries.
Keywords: Anti-HPV vaccine; Cervical cancer prevention; Tunisia; Women.