Evaluation of human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge among healthcare professionals: A study of conference attendees in Angola

Figures & data

Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and factors associated with HPV Knowledge.

	Sample	±Knowledge score
	n (%)	(x̄±s)	p value
Total	65 (100)	11.08 ± 8.76
Gender (n = 63)  Male	35 (55.6)	10.54 ± 8.71	0.667
Female	28 (44.4)	11.57 ± 8.94
^#Age group (years) (n = 63)			0.001**
20–30^a	13 (20.6)	4.15 ± 4.08
31–40	21 (33.3)	10.90 ± 8.44
41–50	15 (23.8)	11.80 ± 8.48
>50^d	14 (22.2)	18.21 ± 7.73
Residence (n = 62)			0.992
Luanda	54 (87.1)	11.46 ± 8.83
Other region	8 (12.9)	11.25 ± 9.13
^#Education (n = 64)			0.001**
Secondary^a^,^c	5 (7.8)	2.40 ± 3.58
Undergraduate^b^,^c	36 (56.3)	7.86 ± 6.95
Postgraduate^c	23 (35.9)	18.26 ± 7.38
^#Profession (n = 60)
Academic^a^,^c	24 (40)	10.46 ± 7.54
Health professional^b^,^c	14 (23.3)	19.86 ± 7.19	0.001***
Joint contracts^c	22 (36.7)	8.45 ± 7.44
Religion (n = 56)
Christian	50 (89.3)	11.64 ± 8.93	0.384
Other	6 (10.7)	15.33 ± 5.43
Marital status (n = 62)
Single	24 (38.7)	9.04 ± 8.07	0.128
Married/Cohabitating	38 (61.3)	12.74 ± 9.14

Note. Postgraduate (Masters/PhD); Joint contracts (i.e. an academic and clinical healthcare role); x̄ =  mean; s = standard deviation; ± Maximum score  = 25, represents the output where Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were applied; Superscript, # = variables where Kruskal–Wallis test was statistically significant; a,b,c = Bonferroni correction post hoc test for each level, groups that was statistically significantly different from each other in the same group; P value = * p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

Table 2. Knowledge of respondents toward HPV.

Questions	Total	Correct (%)	Incorrect (%)
HPV vaccines offer protection against all sexually transmitted infections	49	35(71.4)	14(28.6)
HPV is very rare	55	39 (70.9)	16(29.1)
Having early sex increases the risk of contracting HPV	49	34(69.4)	15(30.6)
HPV does not normally need any treatment	50	34(68)	16(32)
Most sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives	47	31(66)	16(34)
HPV can cause oral cancer	51	33(64.7)	18(35.3)
HPV always shows visible signs or symptoms	52	33(63.5)	19(36.5)
HPV can cause cervical cancer	52	32(61.5)	20(38.5)
HPV can cause HIV/AIDS	48	28(58.3)	20(41.7)
HPV can cause cancer of the penis	49	27(55.1)	22(44.9)
HPV vaccines are most effective if given to people who have never had sex	51	28(54.9)	23(45.1)
Girls who have had the HPV vaccine do not need a Pap smear test	48	26(54.2)	22(45.8)
HPV can cause herpes	50	27(54)	23(46)
There are many types of HPV	49	25(51)	24(49)
HPV vaccines offer protection against most cervical cancers	47	23(48.9)	24(51.1)
You can cure HPV by getting the HPV vaccine	48	23(47.9)	25(52.1)
Having many sexual partners increases the risk of contracting HPV	47	22(46.8)	25(53.2)
The HPV vaccine requires only 1 dose	49	22(44.9)	27(55.1)
HPV can be transmitted during sexual intercourse	45	20(44.4)	25(55.6)
The HPV vaccine protects you against all types of HPV	49	20(40.8)	29(59.2)
The use of condoms reduces the chances of transmission of HPV	47	18(38.3)	29(61.7)
HPV can be transmitted through skin-to-skin genital contact	49	18(36.7)	31(63.3)
Someone who had the HPV vaccine cannot develop cervical cancer	47	17(36.2)	30(63.8)
One of the HPV vaccines offers protection against genital warts	45	16(35.6)	29(64.4)
A person can have HPV for many years without knowing	45	15(33.3)	30(66.7)
HPV can be transmitted through anal sex	46	14(30.4)	32(69.6)
HPV can cause genital warts	49	13(26.5)	36(73.5)
HPV can be transmitted through oral sex	49	10(20.4)	39(79.6)
HPV can be cured with antibiotics	52	9(17.3)	43(82.7)
HPV infections always lead to health problems	48	8(16.7)	40(83.3)
HPV can cause anal cancer	50	7(14)	43(86)
HPV is a bacterial infection	53	5(9.4)	48(90.6)
Men cannot get HPV	50	4(8)	46(92)
A person without symptoms cannot transmit HPV infection	51	4(7.8)	47(92.2)

Note. Questions are ordered by decreasing % answered correctly.

Table 3. Cross tabulation of factors associated with HPV Knowledge.

Characteristics		Knowledge level
		Low n (%)	High n (%)	Sig
Overall		35 (53.8)	30(45.2)
Gender	Male	19(54.3)	16(45.7)	0.955
	Female	15(53.6)	13(46.4)
Age (years)	20–30	13(100)	0(0)	0.001***
	31–40	9(42.9)	12(57.1)
	41–50	8(53.3)	7(46.7)
	>50	3(21.4)	11(78.6)
Education	Secondary	5(100)	0(0)	0.001***
	Undergraduate	25(69.4)	11(30.6)
	Postgraduate	4(17.4)	19(82.6)
Profession	Academic	14(58.3)	10(41.7)	0.009**
	Health professional	2(14.3)	12(85.7)
	Joint contracts	14(63.6)	8(36.4)
Residence	Luanda	27(50)	27(50)	0.709
	Other region	5(62.5)	3(37.5)
Religion	Christianity	27(54)	23(46)	0.193
	Another religion	1(16.7)	5(83.3)
Marital Status	Single	17(70.8)	7(29.2)	0.037*
	Married/Cohabitation	16(42.1)	22(57.9)

Note. Postgraduate (Masters/PhD); Joint contracts (an academic and clinical healthcare role); χ2 = output where Chi-square statistic was applied; Sig =  *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

Data availability statement

Data for this study is not available for sharing due to ethical restrictions. Participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so supporting data is not available.