Viera Švihrová1, Veronika Szabóová1, Tibor Baška1, Katarína Lamošová1, Lukáš Murajda1, Ján Danko2, Henrieta Hudečková1
Introduction: Cervical cancer is preventable disease. 31 000 new cases and 13 000 deaths due to cervical cancer were reported in the European Union countries in 2008. Aurora Project is aimed to promote cervical cancer prevention in the new member states. Objective of this work was to analyse the knowledge of cervical cancer among 15-18 years old adolescents in comparison to adult population from 11 partner countries involved in the project. Patients and Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 10 questions was used. The questionnaire is available on the project website and is translated into 11 languages of partner countries. 2111 questionnaires (91.7 % completed questionnaires) were analysed. There were 294 questionnaires in the age group of 15-18 years old respondents. The average age of respondents was 16.3 ± 1.1 years. There were 1817 questionnaires in the age group of respondents older than 19. The average age of adult population was 29.1 ± 10.5 years. The data were processed by descriptive statistical methods using chi-square test. Results: Two-thirds of adolescent respondents (66.0 % and 59.9 %, vs. 45.5 % and 24.5 %) did not know the right answers to questions about co-factors of HPV infection and cervical cancer treatment options. More than three-quarters of respondents from both groups (90,1 % of adolescents a 81,3 % of adults) did not know the right answers to questions what happens in most cases with HPV infected women. Conclusion: General practitioners for children and adolescents, general practitioners for adults and gynaecologists play crucial role in prevention and expert advice. Information campaigns and educational programs are important parts of interventions. They together can contribute to preventing cervical cancer by spreading information about risk factors and to catching the disease earlier by regular preventive check-ups.