Reporting women’s attitudes to preventive gynaecological healthcare: survey of more than 6000 women in three European countries EUROGIN February 2010 Session ES1 Abstract no. ES1-1 Javier Cortes, MD PhD FIAC Sanda Adjedj, IPSOS Amelie Darras, SPMSD VOICE OF WOMEN 1

Total Age categories Belgium Germany Spain All countries Methodology On-line survey in three European countries by IPSOS Santé Women aged 18 to 50 years old Quota method to ensure national representation for: –age –city size and region –level of education VOICE OF WOMEN 1

3 CONCLUSIONS % of women did not consult their doctor for a gynaecological health control VOICE OF WOMEN 1 We need to establish population based cervical cancer screening programmes (call / recall) to ensure that all women are protected The most important risk factor to develop cervical cancer is not to have been adequately screened

4 CONCLUSIONS 2. The average age for the first gynaecological visit is 20 years old. Daughters consults 6 years before their mothers: 17 y/o vs. 23 y/o VOICE OF WOMEN 1 This reflects the similar decrease in the age of the first sexual intercourse Younger age of sexual debut is an important risk factor to acquire HPV infection

5 CONCLUSIONS 3. 70% of sexually active women don’t feel at risk of HPV contact VOICE OF WOMEN 1 Need for educational programmes on HPV epidemiology and the risk of its acquisition Any sexually active woman is at risk of contact with the HPV: 50% women > 20 y.o HPV (-) at the beginning of their sexual activity becomes HPV (+) at the end of the 5 th year of follow-up.

6 CONCLUSIONS 4. 56% of women believe that HPV vaccination is indicated in case of family history of cervical cancer or with “genetic predisposition” VOICE OF WOMEN 1 Need for HPV vaccination educational programmes All the women up to 26 y.o, in spite of their sexual activity or their clinical history, are targeted for the HPV vaccination

7 CONCLUSIONS 5. 20% of women believe that one virus is the main cause of cervical cancer VOICE OF WOMEN 1 Need for educational programmes on cervical cancer causality HPV is a necessary cause of cervical cancer: it is not expected that an HPV (-) women will develop a cervical cancer

8 In Summary Need to improve the equity on the access to the preventive programmes Poor understanding of: –Cause of cervical cancer –Link between HPV and cervical cancer –Vaccination indications More educational programmes on causes and prevention of cervical cancer are needed THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Javier Cortés MD PhD FIAC VOICE OF WOMEN 1