Abstract

SOUSA, Leilane Barbosa de; PINHEIRO, Ana Karina Bezerra  and  BARROSO, Maria Grasiela Teixeira. Being a woman with HPV: a cultural approach. Rev. esc. enferm. USP [online]. 2008, vol.42, n.4, pp. 737-743. ISSN 0080-6234.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0080-62342008000400017.

This study was carried out in order to investigate the level of women's knowledge about HPV, to identify beliefs, myths and taboos about HPV, as well as to analyze the influence of these cultural elements on women's behavior. We performed a study based on the transcultural care theory. The research was developed from the testimonies of 15 women who were undergoing treatment for HPV. Through the investigation, it was possible to perceive that HPV is a disease that is still unknown and surrounded with mystery, despite all the sources of information about Sexually Trasmitted Diseases (STD). This ignorance, which interacts with cultural factors, favors the development of wrong concepts, such as beliefs and myths.

Keywords : Condylomata acuminate; Health knowledge, attitudes, practice; Sexual behavior; Women's health.