AbstractsWomens Studies

Predictors of HPV Knowledge and Awareness in Rural America

by Melanee Dulfon




Institution: University of Nevada – Las Vegas
Department: Environmental and Occupational Health
Degree: MPH
Year: 2009
Keywords: Health education of women; Knowledge; Sociology of; Papillomaviruses; Rural women; Environmental Public Health; Public Health Education and Promotion
Record ID: 1846617
Full text PDF: http://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations/1217


Abstract

Prior research has shown that overall awareness of HPV is low among women in America. Yet limited research exists as to the awareness of HPV among rural U.S. women. The goal of this study was to determine the factors that predict women's knowledge and awareness of HPV in rural America. Secondary data was utilized from the National Cancer Institute Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) of 2005. The sample consisted of 788 adult women over the age of 18 from rural areas of the U.S. Results indicated younger age, increased education, receipt of a Pap exam in over three years, and having read health sections of newspapers and magazines to be predictors of HPV awareness among rural women in America.