Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

David O. Anderson

Abstract

Globally, over 250,000 women die every year from cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of this quantitative study was to discover the relation between sociodemographic factors of age, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, personal belief, and knowledge about HPV and related cancers. A cross-sectional design was used to determine statistical relationships. Secondary de-identified data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 2018 was accessed from the National Center Institute and was employed in the study. The study used a simple random technique to select a sample of 3,504 women. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of knowing about HPV and related cancers. The binary logistic regression model explained between 37.5% and 60.4% of the variance in the dependent variable. All the independent variables predicted knowledge about HPV and were statistically significant. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with knowledge of HPV and related cancers, OR = 54.3, 95% Cl [2.20, 134.5], p= .015. Access to HPV information, particularly from the internet, improves respondents’ knowledge of HPV and related cancers OR = 3.24, 95% Cl [1.42, 7.43], p=.005. Educational programs should target women of lower socioeconomic status and society at large to be more informed about HPV and related cancers. Additionally, the internet is an important tool that can be used to spread knowledge of HPV and related cancers to those at risk. Implications for positive social change include successful implementation of programs and policies to increase awareness of HPV, its risks, and methods of prevention.

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