244607 HPV-related stigma, negative emotions and men's intention to tell sex partners to receive a Pap test

Monday, October 31, 2011

Stephanie L. Marhefka, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stephanie K. Kolar, MSPH , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Christopher Wheldon, MSPH, MEd , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Natalie D. Hernandez, MPH , College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Elizabeth Baker, MPH, CPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Erica Hesch Anstey, MA, CLC , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Judith Ebbert, MPH, BS, RN , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Eric R. Buhi, MPH, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Anna Giuliano, PhD , Program Leader: Risk Assessment, Detection, and Intervention, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
Ellen Daley, PhD , Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Women's Health, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection, can cause cervical cancer and is associated with anal, penile, vulvar, and oral cancers. Cervical cancer screening, the Pap test, can detect cervical lesions before they become cancerous.

Objectives: Examine associations of HPV-related stigma and negative emotions with men's intentions to tell future, past, or current sex partners to receive a Pap test.

Methods: Men participating in a natural history study were tested for HPV every 6 months. Self-reported HPV-positive men (n=304) also completed a psychosocial questionnaire.

Results: Of 211 men responding to an item concerning intent to tell any future sex partners to get a Pap test, 68%(143) intended to tell a future sex partner to get a Pap test. Of 226 who had a past sex partner, 34%(76) intended to tell a past sex partner. Of 139 who had a main sex partner, 32%(45) reported they told that partner to get a Pap test. In univariate logistic regression, stigma and negative emotions were significantly related to intent to tell a future sex partner to get a Pap test (p=0.004 and 0.005), stigma was related to intent to tell a past sex partner (p=0.047), and negative emotions were related to telling a main partner (p=0.047).

Conclusion: HPV-positive men who intended to tell a sex partner to get a Pap test reported higher stigma and negative emotions. Understanding factors associated with men's intent to tell partners to get a Pap test is important in the prevention of cervical cancer.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Compare HPV-positive men who intended to tell a future, past, or current sex partner to get an Pap test to those who did not. 2. Describe the association between HPV-related stigma and negative emotions with intent to tell a sex partner to get a Pap test.

Keywords: Male Reproductive Health, Cervical Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a PHD level researcher in social and behavioral sciences
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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