Posted Dec. 3, 2009

The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has been awarded a grant by the Fund to Prevent Cervical Cancer and Merck & Co., Inc. to develop an HPV awareness and education campaign.

Dubbed "Be Confident!" the program seeks to educate adolescents and parents about HPV, as well as encourage open discussions with each other and with healthcare providers.

AWHONN will produce new educational materials to build on their existing work that began with the 2008 publication of HPV Counseling: A Provider Resource. Campaign materials will be produced in both English and Spanish, as Hispanic females have the highest incidence of cervical cancer among all groups of women and the second highest mortality rate from cervical cancer, according to AWHONN.

The new materials will focus on broad-based education about the risk of cervical cancer and the benefits of prevention, including vaccines, regular screening with Pap tests and HPV tests, not smoking and sexual practices that limit risk. Materials will include brochures, posters, articles and a public service announcement.

The Be Confident! campaign is set to launch in January, which is Cervical Health Awareness Month. For developments on the campaign and more information on AWHONN, visit www.awhonn.org/hpv. 

"We have an expert team of nurses and women's health professionals who have worked hard to obtain funding for this important program," said AWHONN CEO Karen Peddicord, PhD, RNC. "Our goal with the 'Be Confident!' campaign is to help young women and their parents feel secure in understanding and talking about what HPV is, the associated risk factors and vaccination to prevent HPV and cervical cancer."

AWHONN's brochure and posters will be available to healthcare providers to help them present a balanced and engaging discussion of HPV, cervical cancer and cervical cancer prevention, including vaccinations, so that the women they serve can make informed decisions about HPV vaccinations and their overall cervical health.