**3. Results**

### **3.1 Demographical characteristics**

Demographically, gender (**Figure 1a**), race (**Figure 1b**), age group (**Figure 1c**), and country of residence (**Figure 1d**) were the characteristics used. Under gender, 93 females and 21 males participated in the study questionnaire. 3 of the participants preferred not to say. The number of females that participated was statistically significant (P-Value = 0.001347 < 5%) compared to the number of males (**Figure 1a**). Data under race (**Figure 1b**) indicated participation of races from Black/African (96), White/Caucasian (6), Asian/Asian America (6), Hispanic/Latino (0), American India (0), Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander (0). Other races not included in the list indicated a total score of 9.0. Black/African participants showed the highest score of 96, which is statistically significant compared to participants from other race groups. **Figure 1c** depicts the age group of participants, which ranged from 18 years to 65 and above. Participants from 18 to 24 were 3, 25–34 (6), 35–44 (18), 45–54 (72), 55–64 (15), and 65 and above were 3 participants. Age group 45–54 indicated the highest group of age that participated in the survey with 72 people that responded, followed by age group 35–44 with 18 respondents. In order to know people's notions using location on the use of plant extracts for the treatment of HPV, participants' countries of residence were requested in the survey. The number of participants residing in Nigeria was 51, in South Africa was 12, and those residing in other countries were 51 similar to those in Nigeria (**Figure 1d**).

#### **3.2 Knowledge of HPV infection and the type of cancers it can cause**

HPV infection is the most sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are over 100 types of HPV and more than 40 can infect humans [15]. HPV is known to be the cause of 70% of cervical cancer and other cancers such as vulva cancer, Papillomas/ Carcinomas, vagina, penis, and oropharynx cancers. Additionally, 630,000 cases of HPV-related cancers are diagnosed each year [1, 16–18].

For the above reasons, it was necessary to ascertain the knowledge of participants about HPV infection and other cancers it can cause. Data realized from this survey question (**Figure 2**) indicates that 78 participants are aware of HPV infection and

#### **Figure 1.**

*Used demographic characteristics in the study. Gender (a), race (b), age group (c), and country of residence (d). Any parameter with the highest score in each group was statistically significant (P-value = <5%) compared to others.*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Participants with knowledge of HPV infection and the types of cancers it can cause. The level of awareness was highly statistically significant at P-value = 0.000 < 5% for 78 participants. However, 24 participants declared their lack of awareness of HPV infection and the type of cancers it can cause.*

## *The Use of Native Flora/Herbal Products in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infection… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104742*

other types of cancers it can cause while 24 participants are ignorant of this. 9 participants are not sure (maybe) of their level of awareness to this. This shows that most people are aware of HPV infection and other types of cancer.
