Abstract B89: HPV is not just a woman's business! Understanding the gaps in men's knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine
Authors: Osazuwa-Peters Nosayaba , Boakye Eric Adjei , Tobo Betelihem B. , Mohammed Kahee Agid 
Published: May 2016

Background: The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was first approved for use in females in 2006, and then in 2009, for both males and females. However, the knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine, and uptake of the vaccine has been suboptimal and worse among males. In addition, the burden of HPV-associated cancers in the United States is very high among males, especially in head and neck, anal, and penile cancers. If the current HPV vaccination trend persists, then the Healthy People 2020 goal of achieving 80% HPV vaccination will not be achieved.

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify gaps in HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge among adult males in the United States.

Methods: Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 4 Cycle 4 (November 2014) were analyzed for 3,677 survey participants aged 18 years and older. Primary outcome of interest was men's knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine. Secondary outcome of interest were men's knowledge that HPV causes certain cancers. Participants were asked if they have heard about the HPV and HPV vaccine. Respondents who answered “no” were excluded (n = 1,389). Final sample size used for analyses for the secondary outcomes of interest was 2,288.

Results: Sixty-four percent of respondents (56% of men and 72% of women) had heard of HPV and the HPV vaccine. In multivariate analyses, after adjusting for known covariates, males were 67% (95% CI: 0.25 – 0.45) less likely to have heard of HPV, and 76% (95% CI: 0.18 – 0.32) less likely to have heard of the HPV vaccine compared to females. Seventy percent (73% of men and 67% of women) knew that HPV is sexually transmitted disease (STD), 78% (76% of men and 79% of women) knew HPV causes cervical cancer, but only 29% of men and women knew it causes penile cancer, 26% (27% of men and 25 % of women) knew it causes anal cancer, and 30% (31% of men and 29% of women) knew it causes oral cancer. Among those that had heard of HPV, there was no statistical difference in knowledge between males and females with regard to the knowledge that HPV causes cervical, penile, anal and oral cancer. However males were less likely than females to know that HPV causes cervical cancer while females were less likely to know that HPV causes oral cancer.

Modified by race, non-Hispanic Black women were 54% less likely to have heard of HPV (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24 – 0.88); and 64% less likely to have heard of HPV vaccine (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.19 – 0.67), compared to non-Hispanic White women. Similarly, compared to non-Hispanic White women, Hispanic women were 51% less likely to have heard of HPV vaccine (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27 – 0.88). For men, compared to non-Hispanic White men, Hispanic men were 69% less likely to have heard of HPV vaccine (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16 – 0.62).

Conclusion: A two-third of respondents were aware of HPV and HPV vaccine, but a clear gender and racial gap still exist in HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge. This underscores the need for more tailored interventions specifically targeted towards males and minority racial groups in order to increase knowledge and uptake of the HPV vaccine. It also highlights the need for more deliberate efforts on the part of physicians to discuss the HPV vaccine with eligible patients and parents

Citation Format: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Eric Adjei Boakye, Betelihem B. Tobo, Kahee Agid Mohammed. HPV is not just a woman's business! Understanding the gaps in men's knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B89.