Correlates of intent to be vaccinated against HPV: An exploratory study of college-aged males

Objective: Pending FDA approval of an HPV vaccine for males necessitates empirical investigation regarding acceptance. This study identified correlates of HPV vaccine acceptance among college-aged males. Methods: Young males (N=115) attending a small university located in the South were recruited. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Young males were provided with a written explanation of HPV and the role this virus plays in cervical cancer as well as the potential value of the pending vaccine. Correlates of negative intent to be vaccinated were tested at a bivariate level. Correlates achieving bivariate significance were then tested using hierarchal logistic regression, with age as a control variable. Results: Males were between 18 and 23 years of age. Just over one-third (35.7%) indicated it was unlikely they would receive an FDA-approved HPV vaccine (negative intent). In multivariate, age-adjusted, analyses those not having penile-vaginal sex (past 12 months) were about 2.5 times more likely to have negative intent compared to those having penile-vaginal sex (AOR=2.54, 95% CI=1.09-5.89, P=.03). Those reporting they had not previously heard about HPV were about 2.7 times more likely to have negative intent (AOR=2.78, 95% CI=1.14-6.80, P=.02). Finally, young males indicating they had been raised in a rural area were about 2.7 times more likely to indicate negative intent (AOR=2.68, 95% CI=1.09-6.57, P=.03). Conclusion: Findings from this exploratory study provide a starting point for subsequent investigations designed to identify characteristics that may preclude young males from voluntary acceptance of an HPV vaccine that may soon be approved by the FDA.