Attitudes and Perceptions of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in Caribbean and African American Adolescent boys and Their Parents

Study Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. The prevalence of HPV in men ranges from 20% to 65% and is high at all ages. HPV vaccine has high efficacy in preventing HPV infection, cervical cancer, and genital warts. The study objectives were to describe attitudes and perceptions toward acceptability of HPV vaccination among inner-city Caribbean and African American adolescent boys and their parents and to identify and discuss correlates that may be associated with these factors. Design, Setting, and Participants: A cross-sectional survey, administered in a general adolescent medicine clinic. Participants were recruited from a convenience sample of adolescent boys aged 13 to 19 years currently under care at an adolescent medicine clinic. Results: Responses of 101 adolescent boys and 35 parents were analyzed. Consistent condom use was associated with less interest in HPV vaccination; those reporting consistent condom use had an 88% decreased odds of being interested in HPV vaccination compared with those reporting inconsistent condom uses. Interest in receiving the HPV vaccine was significantly associated with having increased numbers of sexual partners. Conclusion: Overall, most adolescent males (65%) were interested in receiving the HPV vaccine and a majority believed their parents would allow the vaccination (77.2%). Parental knowledge that the majority of cervical and rectal cancers are caused by HPV increased the odds of parents believing their sons need HPV vaccination; however, it is not statistically significant.