Stigma of having a sexually transmitted infection: Perceptions of human papillomavirus infection and the needs for counseling

Introduction: The test of human papillomavirus (HPV) was introduced in 2008 as a primary screening test into the Mexican cervical cancer screening program (CCSP) Although the evidence for the recommendation of this test is wide, there is a lack of information about the use experience gained among mexican women who have used HPV testing.

Methods: We conducted 24 semi-structured interviews with women users of CCSP in two health clinics in Michoacan, Mexico. The interviews assessed the belives, perceptions of susceptibility and severity about HPV testing. The interpretation of the data was based on the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Reasoned Action with a gender focus.

Results: Most of the women had little information about HPV. Our findings show that women have a great fear of HPV and perceive that a woman with a positive result could be infected by a promiscuous or unfaithful partner or themselves are. The women received lack counseling about HPV, the test and the significance of their results. The findings could be related with negative effects.

Conclusions: Women express concerns about their HPV results. Greater awareness of importance of cervical cancer screening could be useful to mitigate potential psychosocial effects and gradually reduce the stigma to HPV infection. CCSP should be implemented in conjunction with communication strategies and counseling, it is important to develop guidelines for education about HPV, according to the needs of women and their context and it is necessary to train health workers to provide counseling.