A Study of Awareness, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Among Women Attending Public Health Centers

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Mashhad, Iran

2 Senior Expert in Epidemiology, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

3 Ph.D, Candidate of Health Education & Health Promotion, Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran

4 Bachelor of Public Health Student, School of Public Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran

5 Professor of Health Education & Promotion, Editor-in-Chief, Health Literacy Journal, Dean, Department of Health Education & Promotion, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad -Iran

10.22038/nnj.2026.91352.1515

Abstract

Background and Aims: Human papillomavirus (HPV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are major threats to women's health. This study aimed to determine the awareness, attitude, and behavior towards these two viruses in women visiting health centers.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 250 participants through a multi-stage cluster sampling process within Mashhad health centers. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing KAB toward HPV and HIV. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and correlation tests were used to examine associations between KAB scores and demographic variables.
Results: The mean knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores for HPV were 9.04 ± 5.21, 7.78 ± 4.20, and 0.9 ± 2.07, respectively, while for HIV, they were 12.56 ± 7.55, 15.35 ± 6.72, and 2.7 ± 2.4. Higher education and marital status were significantly associated with better KAB scores for both viruses (p < 0.05). Although HIV awareness was higher, preventive behaviors for both infections were insufficient.
Conclusion: Participants demonstrated greater knowledge about HIV than HPV; however, preventive practices overall were weak. Public health initiatives should emphasize education and behavior-change campaigns to strengthen HPV and HIV prevention, especially among less-educated and unmarried women. 

Keywords

References

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Navid No
Volume 28, Issue 96
March 2026
Pages 14-25

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