PERCEPTION AND KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) AND HPV DNA SELF-SAMPLING AMONGST WOMEN IN WEST MALAYSIA.

ZA AHMAD¹, S DAUD^1,2, NN ABDULLAH³, NS OMAR¹

¹Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, ²Maternofetal & Embryo Research Group, and

³Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, 47000 Sungai Buloh Selangor, West Malaysia.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a potentially preventable disease due to the availability of an effective cervical screening programme. However, uptake of Pap smears is often affected by patient’s reluctance and other healthcare barriers. Thus Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) self-sampling may help to eliminate the screening deterrent and helps widen the screening population. The aim of this study was to assess the perception and knowledge of HPV and HPV DNA self-sampling amongst women in West Malaysia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done in Pusat Perubatan Pakar Universiti Teknologi MARA, West Malaysia, from February until May 2017. All women aged between 18 to 55 years old who attended the Gynecology Clinic were selected randomly to participate. They were shown the actual size picture of the HPV self-sampler and were asked to complete a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS v24. Results: The mean age of the sample was 32 (SD 7.7) years, mainly of Malay ethnicity. One hundred and forty-five (65.9%) were aware of HPV and 148 (67.3%) women knew HPV causes cervical cancer. Although only 33(15%) women were aware of HPV self-sampling, 186 (84%) women were willing to do self-sampling in the future and 147 (66.8%) were willing to buy the self-sampling kit in the future. Conclusion: Participants have high perception and knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer risk but low awarenss of HPV DNA self-sampling. However majority were willing to self-conduct HPV DNA self-sampling. Efforts are required to introduce and gain support from women to perform HPV DNA self-sampling in Malaysia.

Keywords: Awareness, Cervical cancer screening, Cervical cancer prevention, Human papillomavirus, Knowledge.

Corresponding author: Suzanna Daud, MRCOG UK, Maternofetal & Embryo Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, 47000 Sungai Buloh Selangor.

Tel: +60123130200      

Email: suzannadaud@hotmail.com

Brunei Int Med J.2021;17:79-861