Influence of risk-taking health behaviours of adolescents on cervical cancer prevention: a Hungarian survey E. MAREK, MSC, PHD, SENIOR LECTURER, Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, K. BERENYI, MD, POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, T. DERGEZ, MSC, PHD, SENIOR LECTURER, Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, I. KISS, MD, DSC, FULL PROFESSOR, Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary, & G. D’CRUZ, MSC, PHD, SENIOR LECTURER, School of Nursing Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK MAREK E., BERENYI K., DERGEZ T., KISS I. & D’CRUZ G. (2016) European Journal of Cancer Care 25, 57– 68 Influence of risk-taking health behaviours of adolescents on cervical cancer prevention: a Hungarian survey An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among the Hungarian adolescents to establish their use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs in relation to sexual behaviours, knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, and beliefs and attitudes towards screening and vaccination. Results indicated that adolescent risk-taking health behaviours correlate with risky sexual behaviours. As risk-taking behaviours do not correlate with a better awareness of the risk associated with HPV infection, it is of crucial importance that HPV/cervical cancer preventing educational programmes shall be sensitive to this ‘vulnerable’ population and draw the attention of these adolescents to their increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases and undesired pregnancies. Well-designed behavioural change interventions may be effective when in addition to providing adolescents (both men and women) with clear information about the implications of an HPV infection, they also aim to improve safer sex behaviours: consistent condom usage, limiting the number of sex partners, as well as encouraging regular participation in gynaecological screenings and uptake of the HPV vaccine. As this study population demonstrated positive attitudes towards the primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer, the free HPV vaccination for the 12–13- year-old girls in Autumn 2014 will hopefully increase the currently low uptake of the vaccine in Hungary. Keywords: adolescents, cervical cancer, prevention, risky sexual behaviour, risk-taking health behav- iour, human papillomavirus. INTRODUCTION Adolescent risk-taking behaviour due to physical, cogni- tive and psychosocial development, has been heavily investigated by social scientists and health science researchers (Rodham et al. 2006; Barbalat et al. 2010; Ro- mer 2010). The consistent finding from the literature is a strong, positive association between adolescent alcohol- use and sexual activity (Cooper & Orcutt 1997; Grace 1997; Staton et al. 1999; Sen 2002; Coleman & Cater 2005; Barbalat et al. 2010; Romer 2010; Sanchez et al. 2013). It has been demonstrated that the ‘lighter’ level of alcohol consumption – that lessens inhibition and ham- pers judgement, but does not result in physical sickness or total loss of mental faculties – increases the probability of sexual intercourse and also the probability of non-contra- cepted intercourse for adolescent girls (Sen 2002; Coleman Correspondence address: Erika Marek, Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Pecs, 12. Szigeti str., Pecs, H-7624, Hungary (e-mail: erika.marek@aok.pte.hu). Accepted 27 April 2015 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.12332 European Journal of Cancer Care, 2016, 25, 57–68 © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Original Article