Attitudes and Knowledge About Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer among Women Referred to a Tertiary Gynecologic Oncology Clinic, Tehran, Iran

Background & Objective: Cervical cancer is a major public health concern worldwide. This study was conducted with aim to assess the attitudes and knowledge about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer among women attending a tertiary gynecologic clinic.Materials & Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 139 women referred to the gynecologic clinics of Yas Hospital Complex, affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences, from 2023 to 2024. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean total knowledge score was 25.07±5.92 out of a possible 33 points. Participants demonstrated strong foundational awareness, correctly identifying HPV as a sexually transmitted infection, recognizing that HPV affects both genders, and recognizing its role in causing cervical cancer. However, knowledge of the risks of vertical transmission and the lack of a specific antiviral treatment for HPV was low. Educational attainment was significantly associated with knowledge levels (P=0.01). Indeed, educational attainment was the strongest predictor of knowledge scores.Conclusion: In this clinical setting, basic HPV awareness was high among women. However, substantial misconceptions persisted regarding treatment options, vertical transmission, and vaccination efficacy. These findings highlight an urgent need for educational interventions targeting these knowledge gaps, particularly among women with lower educational attainment. They also underscore the need for structured HPV education and culturally tailored awareness campaigns.