269284 HPV knowledge, vaccine intentions, and barriers to vaccine uptake among college students

Monday, October 29, 2012

Natalie D. Hernandez, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Erica Hesch Anstey, MA, CLC , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cheryl A. Vamos, PhD, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Ellen Daley, PhD , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Stephanie K. Kolar, MSPH , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Background: The HPV vaccines that protect against 4 types of HPV associated with ano-genital lesions and cancers in women and men received FDA-approval in 2006 for women ages 9-26 and in 2009 for men ages 9-26. Uptake among college students, who are high-risk for HPV infection, is disappointingly low.

Purpose: To explore HPV vaccine intentions in a sample of undergraduate students following approval for women and just prior to approval for men.

Methods: Male (n=203) and female (n=276) undergraduate students completed paper-and-pencil surveys assessing HPV knowledge, vaccine intentions, and barriers to vaccination. Twenty-three true/false questions were summed to create an HPV knowledge score (range=0-23). Open-ended questions assessed reasons for vaccine intentions.

Results: Mean knowledge among women (13.9; SD=2.5) and men (11.0; SD=6.2) was low. As expected, more women (41%) than men (1%) reported receiving the vaccine. Among women and men, 29% and 5% intended to vaccinate, 28% and 24% desired more knowledge, 25% and 33% weren't sure; and 19% and 38% responded no, respectively. Men and women primarily cited lack of HPV knowledge or vaccine knowledge as reasons not to vaccinate; men also described uncertainty about vaccine approval for males. Side effects, safety concerns, and efficacy were other issues for women. Men and women cited risk-reduction/protection as motivation to vaccinate; women also cited doctor/parent recommendations.

Conclusion: Vaccine intention was low in this sample, even among women, who were approved for vaccination. More education about HPV and the vaccine, focusing on risk-reduction, is needed to improve vaccination rates among college students.

Learning Areas:
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control

Learning Objectives:
Describe HPV knowledge and HPV vaccine intentions among a sample of male and female college students Explain reasons why college men and women intend or do not intend to get the HPV vaccine

Keywords: STD Prevention, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I assisted with data collection, analysis, and write up for the study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3293.0: PRSH Posters: STIs and HIV