Assessing the Efficacy of Risk Communication on the Knowledge, Awareness, and Beliefs of Human Papillomavirus among Women in Tanzania

Objective: To assess the efficacy of risk communication on the awareness, knowledge, and beliefs of HPV and its link to cervical cancer among women aged 25 to 49 in Tanzania as well as to explore the association between HPV awareness and demographic characteristics. Materials and methods: This study was conducted among women aged 25 to 49 recruited from the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. Women were offered HPV self-sampling after risk communication via verbal explanation, an educational video on cervical cancer and HPV, as well as an animation that explains the process of HPV self-sampling. If HPV self-sampling was accepted, participants completed an exit survey to assess their knowledge, awareness, and beliefs about cervical cancer, HPV, and the relationship between the two after performing the procedure. If HPV self-sampling was declined, participants would have completed a different survey used to investigate the reasons for declining the procedure. Results: A total of 150 women were recruited and self-collected an HPV self-sample. The exit survey had a 100% response rate. Few women (34.2%) reported having heard of HPV, with no significant difference between rural and urban areas. More than 80% of women in both rural and urban populations did not know that a positive screening test does not mean cancer, that there are outpatient treatments that can help prevent the progression of HPV into cervical cancer, and that HPV infections can be asymptomatic. There was a significant association between education level and awareness of HPV (p=0.002). Conclusion: The knowledge and awareness of HPV and its link to cervical cancer was poor among both the urban and rural population groups even after risk communication was performed. These results reflect the need to gain the perspectives of the women to both optimize and determine the efficacy of risk communication.