Understanding HPV disease and prevention: a guide for school nurses.

Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) causes 99.7% of all cervical cancers. HPV Types 16 and 18 are responsible for approximately 77% of cases, and peak prevalence occurs in females younger than 25 years of age. The recent implementation of HPV vaccination provides females with the opportunity to prevent infection. School nurses are advocates of student health and often a primary source of information. Therefore, they can play a key role in promoting vaccination prior to sexual debut. They can also promote regular cervical screening postvaccination, which may not be apparent to many students and parents. To deal with such issues, school nurses need a firm understanding of HPV and its role in cervical cancer. A greater understanding of HPV disease and prevention among school nurses, students, and parents may lead to greater reductions in the burden of cervical and other HPV-related diseases.