A survey found that a considerable number of mothers held mistaken views of the cause of cervical cancer, and few of them knew the disease could be preventable by vaccination, according to a press release received from the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong on Tuesday.

The association and the University of Hong Kong interviewed 500 mothers with daughters aged nine to 16 in October 2007, when the vaccine for cervical cancer had already been made available in the city.

The survey showed that only 30 percent of the respondents correctly pointed out infection with Human Papilloma virus (HPV) as the main cause of cervical cancer; 43 percent thought that having too many sex partners and smoking were the main cause (which were only risk factors); 19 percent erroneously considered heredity was the main cause.

The result also revealed only 32 percent were aware that all sexually-active women are exposed to the risk of the cancer and only 22 percent had the idea that it is preventable by HPV vaccination.

Dr. Susan Fan, Executive Director of the association, said that mothers who mistakenly think that women who are monogamous, non- smoking, with no family history of cervical cancer will not get the disease, not recognizing that all women who have ever had sex have a chance of getting cervical cancer, may have a false sense of security and be less vigilant in cervical cancer prevention practices for themselves and their daughters.

Fan said that the development of the HPV vaccine made the prevention of cervical cancer more effective. Administering the vaccine to girls and young women before they are infected by HPV will reduce their risk of cervical cancer.

According to the survey, only 4 percent of the respondents had their daughters vaccinated, while among the rest who did not take such action, many wished to have more information about the vaccine to help them decide whether or not their daughters should be vaccinated.

Fan said the association would call on healthcare providers to step up public education about the HPV vaccine in order to facilitate people to make informed decisions.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2009)