Human papillomavirus prevention education campaign with elementary school students in public schools in a municipality in the western mesoregion of the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Resumo

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) affects the skin and mucous membranes, resulting in a globally transmitted sexually transmitted infection. Human Papillomavirus vaccination stands out as the most effective and cost-effective strategy, with robust evidence of declines in infection rates and virus-related cancers. In addition, consistent condom use is recommended as a protective barrier measure. Screening programs, through cytopathological examinations and HPV detection tests, enable early diagnosis. Health education plays a key role in promoting scientific literacy among the population, enabling safe sexual practices. Therefore, the present study aimed to propose an educational campaign on HPV infection prevention in the municipality of Lago da Pedra, state of Maranhão. The study was conducted in October 2023 in three public schools, totaling 168 participants. Regarding the HPV causative agent, prior to the campaign, 64 students (38%) answered correctly. After the educational lecture, the number of correct responses increased to 121 (81.2%) (χ² = 58.6; p < 0.0000001). The statement that HPV can lead to cancer was considered valid by 66% (n = 111) of the students before the campaign and by 98.6% (n = 147) after the campaign (χ² = 53.2; p < 0.0000001). The results demonstrated that health education is one of the most crucial measures in public health, playing a vital role in promoting scientific literacy among the population and facilitating an understanding of all aspects of the disease.

KEY WORDS: Health education; public health; HPV infection; sexually transmitted infections.