Asia-Pacific journal of public health
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Asia Pac J Public Health · May 2012
Women's knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and their attitudes toward HPV vaccine: preparing for HPV vaccination in China.
To explore women's knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine in Zhejiang, China, women attending the checkup clinics were invited to participate. A questionnaire-guided interview was conducted with a representative sample of 1490 women, and 1432 effective questionnaires were obtained. The authors found 39.1% of women in urban areas and 27.1 % in rural areas had heard of HPV, whereas 23.7% and 15.1%, respectively, had heard of the HPV vaccine. ⋯ The authors conclude that inadequate knowledge and misconceptions about HPV are common. Attitudes toward HPV vaccine are unsatisfactory. Education campaigns targeting different populations are needed prior to the introduction of an HPV vaccine.
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Asia Pac J Public Health · May 2012
India at the crossroads of millennium development goals 4 and 5.
The current year marks the completion of two thirds of the period between the adoption of the millennium development goals (MDGs) and the target date of 2015. Although there has been some progress, it is incontestable that much more needs to be done. India contributes to 20% of births worldwide and has the highest proportion of children younger than 5 years. ⋯ Certain states continue to have unacceptably high mortality and morbidity rates. This article provides a context to the current status of maternal and child health in India, highlights the achievements, and uses the available data effectively to emphasize the progress. The authors acknowledge the new initiatives and make recommendations for reinforcing the continuum of care.