Users can share interactive information on HPV anonymously
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new Facebook application has
been launched to help educate, motivate and mobilize people to prevent the
spread of Humanpapilloma Virus (HPV). "Fact Check: HPV" (www.hpvfactcheck.org)
allows users to take an interactive, educational quiz about HPV, find
additional resources, and commit to take action, while even allowing concerned
friends to anonymously share the application with peers.
The application was developed by Partnership for Prevention and the University
of Maryland's College of Information Studies with input from the School of
Public Health. The project was funded by the Fund to Prevent Cervical Cancer.
"Use of social networking sites has skyrocketed in the last few years,
becoming an excellent channel to promote healthy behaviors," said Robert J.
Gould PhD, president of Partnership for Prevention. "Fact Check: HPV will
harness the power of social media to increase awareness of this common
sexually transmitted disease (STD)."
Use of social networking sites has quadrupled over the last four years from 8
percent in 2005 to over 35 percent in 2008. Over 75% of young adults, age
18-24, have a profile page, the vast majority of whom check it at least
weekly.
"Young adults trust information recommended by friends, however, friends are
often reticent to share information about stigmatized illnesses such as STDs,
mental illnesses, or substance abuse. This project tests a novel strategy that
spreads sensitive information through friendship networks, while still
retaining anonymity." said Derek L. Hansen, PhD, Assistant Professor at
University of Maryland's College of Information Studies. "It also helps us
learn how the application spreads through the network and identify
misperceptions about HPV based on quiz results."
A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) found that one in four adolescent girls between the ages of 14-19, or
3.2 million teen girls, is infected with at least one of the most common
sexually transmitted diseases -- (HPV, Chlamydia, Herpes, and Trichomoniasis).
This study sheds new light on a chronic problem among adolescents in the
United States -- one that often receives little attention, in part, due to the
sensitive nature of the topic.
STDs can result in serious health consequences when left untreated, including
cervical cancer and infertility, and cost the U.S. health care system millions
of dollars in medical expenses.
Partnership for Prevention is a membership organization of business, nonprofit
and government leaders working to make evidence-based disease prevention and
health promotion a national priority. More information is available at
www.prevent.org .
SOURCE Partnership for Prevention
Damon Thompson of Partnership for Prevention, +1-202-833-2009,
dthompson@prevent.org
