U.S. Chinese International Students (CIS)' Awareness, Knowledge and Intentions for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

Limited research had examined Chinese International Students (CIS)’ vaccination behaviors studying and living in U.S.. The purpose of this study was to examine Chinese International Students’ (CIS) awareness, knowledge, beliefs and intentions for HPV vaccine. CIS attending a U.S. Midwestern university were recruited to participate in a 57-item online survey. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between demographic variables, belief variables and HPV vaccination intentions. Overall, 350 participants aged 18-26 years old (mean=21.42, SD=2.44), who had not been vaccinated for HPV were included in this study. Participants had limited awareness and knowledge levels pertaining to HPV infection and HPV vaccine: 27.2% had heard of the HPV vaccine, 95.4% had heard of cervical cancer; and the mean knowledge score was 4.34/12 (SD=1.7). Additionally, 20.4% of the participants knew HPV could cause genital warts and 32.1% knew HPV could cause cervical cancer. Statistically significant gender differences also emerged: females had a significant higher level of awareness and knowledge of the HPV vaccine; and females had a significant higher level of belief that “sexually active women; and women or girls who have not had sex should be vaccinated”. Overall, 69.2% female and 34.9% male participants responded they were “likely to receive HPV vaccine in the future”. Besides gender (B=1.726, p<0.001), participants’ vaccination intentions were also associated with vaccination behavior of best friends (B=0.758, p<0.01). In conclusion, school and governmental agencies should promote HPV vaccine alongside formal sex education among CIS. HPV vaccine should be further promoted among male CIS.