This article is part of the supplement: Second Annual International African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium Conference
Proceedings
Knowledge about human papillomavirus and the HPV vaccine – a survey of the general population
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* Corresponding author: Camille C Ragin Camille.Ragin@downstate.edu
1 Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2 Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Science, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
3 Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
4 Department of Biological Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, USA
5 Division of Gynecologic Specialties, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
6 Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
7 Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
8 Department of Community and Behavioural Health Science, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
9 Department of Cancer Control, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
10 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Downstate School of Public Health, State University of New York, USA
Infectious Agents and Cancer 2009, 4(Suppl 1):S10 doi:10.1186/1750-9378-4-S1-S10
Published: 10 February 2009Abstract
Background
The United States (US) Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine with the purpose of reducing the risk of cervical cancers caused by HPV 16 and HPV 18. It is important that the general population be educated about HPV and the HPV vaccine in order to make the appropriate decision whether or not to vaccinate against this virus. Participants from the adult US general population of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and Hampton, Virginia, USA (18+ years old) were surveyed to determine their knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine, and to evaluate their perception of the vaccine efficacy and safety.
Results
We report herein preliminary data for 202 participants. Fifty-five percent (55%) of the study population was White, 45% Black, and 1% was from other ethnic groups or did not disclose their ethnicity. A large proportion of participants had heard of the human papillomavirus (overall population: 93.6%; Pittsburgh: 95%; Hampton: 90%). Participants of African descent were slightly less aware of HPV than Whites (Black 89% vs. Whites 97%, p > 0.1). Although the majority of participants knew that HPV caused cervical cancer (84%), Whites were more informed than Black participants (91% vs. 73%, p = 0.044). Eighty-seven percent (87%) of participants had heard of the HPV vaccine (Pittsburgh: 92% and Hampton: 74%, p = 0.029); a higher proportion of Whites were aware of the vaccine when compared with Blacks (93% vs. 76%, p = 0.031). However, only 18% of the population knew that the current FDA-approved vaccine protected against genital warts and most cervical cancer (20% of Blacks and 16% of Whites, p > 0.1).
Conclusion
These data suggest that although the general population might be aware of HPV and the HPV vaccine, knowledge of the benefits of the HPV vaccination may not be apparent. Knowledge of HPV and the HPV vaccine could result in a likely choice of HPV vaccination and would subsequently reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.