Italians Fear Cancer the Most, Survey Finds
A recent survey conducted by Censis with the support of MSD Italia has revealed that cancer is the disease that scares Italians the most, with over 70% of citizens expressing fear of the disease. The survey also found that dementias, diseases causing physical non-self-sufficiency, and cardiovascular diseases follow closely behind in terms of fear levels.
The report, titled “Papillomavirus: towards the elimination of HPV tumors,” analyzed the perception of the risk of HPV cancer and the prevention strategies adopted by parents and women. Surprisingly, only 65.1% of parents and 60.9% of women believe that cancers can be prevented.
Preventive medical and diagnostic checks were highlighted as the most preferred prevention strategy by 80.6% of parents and 84.7% of women. However, the survey also found that the level of education plays a significant role in the approach towards prevention strategies, with those with higher qualifications showing greater awareness and commitment.
Interestingly, the survey revealed a drop in the use of vaccination as a prevention strategy, with only 22.8% of parents citing it as a prevention strategy compared to 39.1% in 2022. Ketty Vaccaro, head of the Welfare and Health Area of Censis, expressed concern over the decrease in vaccination rates, stating that it contributes to a lack of awareness about the effectiveness of anti-HPV vaccination in preventing serious tumors.
The overall cultural climate, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic, has led to a drop in tension on vaccination as a prevention strategy. Despite this, experts emphasize that vaccination remains a crucial tool in eliminating HPV-related tumors and reducing the prevalence of cervical cancer.
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