Knowledge and Practices Regarding Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women in Low-Income Areas of China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary cause of cervical cancer. However, this can be prevented through vaccination and screening. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between behavior, knowledge, and attitude toward cervical cancer and regular screening and HPV infection among women in Lueyang County. Methods: Women who underwent cervical cancer screening at the outpatient department of a maternal and child health center between September and December 2021 were invited to participate. In total, 2,303 women completed the questionnaire. Women who underwent regular or irregular screening were 1:1 matched for age. Differences in knowledge of HPV and attitudes toward HPV vaccination among different populations were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors influencing HPV infection. Results: In total, 417 pairs of women who underwent regular and irregular screening were successfully matched. Multivariate logistic regression results indicated that age is a risk factor for HPV infection (OR=1.056 95%CI: [1.031 1.082]), while regular screening acts as a protective factor against HPV infection (OR=0.174 95%CI: [0.117 0.259]). Additionally, regular screening was associated with a higher level of knowledge about HPV among women compared to those who did not undergo regular screening (p<0.001). Conclusions: Women in Lueyang County have low levels of knowledge regarding HPV and cervical cancer. Regular screening is a protective factor against HPV infection. The regular screening group demonstrates a higher level of HPV knowledge compared with the irregular screening group. These findings highlight the importance of regular screening and the need to strengthen public health education.