CONHECIMENTO E ATITUDES SOBRE O HPV E VACINAÇÃO COMO PANORAMA DE UMA UNIDADE BÁSICA DE SAÚDE

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is related to the development of cervical cancer. In 2014, the national immunization program (PNI) of the Ministry of Health (MS) adopted the quadrivalent vaccine. The guarantee of vaccination coverage depends on the population's knowledge about HPV, in addition to the integration between parents, adolescents, and health professionals. The research described the knowledge about HPV and the opinion about HPV vaccination among users of a basic health unit, in the city of Lagarto-SE. A cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was carried out in a basic health unit (UBS) located in the center of Lagarto-SE. The study sample consisted of 371 individuals (aged 21 years old or more). The variables education, gender, and income were statistically significant in relation to knowledge about HPV. It was observed that 69.48% of users knew about the existence of the vaccine. Among the sources of information, the most used to obtain knowledge about the vaccine were TV/radio (27.5%). Individuals with less than 9 years of study were more likely to relate the use of the vaccine to the early onset of sexual life. Most participants had knowledge about the HPV virus and vaccine, but the results show the need to develop more effective educational actions focusing on the form of transmission and prevention of HPV infection, especially among those with less knowledge about the topic.