Human papillomavirus awareness, knowledge, and vaccination status in a diverse population of male postsecondary students in Greater Vancouver

Background: In addition to causing cervical cancers in women, human papillomavirus (HPV) infections can cause anogenital warts in men and women, and lead to cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, anus, and genitalia in both sexes. Although vaccination to protect against this most common of sexually transmitted infections is available to men as well as women, few studies have focused on vaccine-eligible men. Methods: A survey was designed to collect demographic information and assess awareness and knowledge of HPV and vaccination status of males age 19 to 26 of varying backgrounds. Questionnaires were made available in student health clinics at two large urban universities and two large urban colleges in Greater Vancouver between December 2012 and May 2013. The data collected were analyzed to identify trends rather than to quantify the degree of differences between demographic groups. Results: Of 176 respondents, 141 (80.1%) reported that they had heard of HPV, with 11 (6.3%) indicating positive vaccination status. Awareness and knowledge of HPV varied widely among demographic groups. Overall, knowledge regarding non-cervical morbidities and vaccine availability to males was poor, with respondents who were homosexual and those already vaccinated demonstrating superior knowledge of HPV. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for education about non-cervical morbidities related to human papillomavirus infections and the availability of HPV vaccine for males.