2464. A Significant Portion of College Students Are Not Aware of HPV Disease and HPV Vaccine Recommendations

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough HPV vaccination has been shown to be very effective in preventing genital warts and cancers caused by the vaccine strains, immunization rates are low, especially among males and certain ethnic groups. ACIP has recommended that the HPV vaccine be administered to females through age 26 and males through age 21 (26 in MSM). Therefore, there is a significant amount of time for catch up. We assessed college students’ awareness of HPV disease and ACIP-HPV vaccine recommendations in Los Angeles County.MethodsA 31-question survey was developed and IRB approved (WIRB No 1920852-43973015). CSULB Health Sciences students were trained on HPV disease and prevention, and they administered the survey in-person to other students at various locations on campus and recorded the data.ResultsOne hundred eighty individuals were surveyed from February to April 2018. The average age of the respondents was 21 ± 2 years. The majority (110 out of 180; 61.1%) of the respondents were female. 75 out of 180 (41.7%) respondents were Latino/Hispanic, 62 out of 180 (34.4%) were Caucasian, 30 out of 180 (16.7%) were Asian American and 20 out of 180 (11.1%) were AA. 91 out of 180 (50.6%) indicated that the highest level of education in their immediate family was some college credit, no degree. 91 out of 179 (50.8%) respondents have had >2 sexual partners, and 134 out of 180 (74.4%) used condoms. 25 out of 179 (14.0%) had not been sexually active. 3 out of 180 (1.7%) had experienced genital warts and 9 out of 131 (6.9%) had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. 36 out of 180 (20.0%) indicated that they had “no knowledge” of HPV. 95 out of 180 (52.8%) received the HPV vaccine, 44 out of 180 (24.4%) had not and 41 out of 180 (22.8%) did not know. 106 out of 180 (58.9%) participants did not know that the HPV vaccine is recommended for women and men through age 26, and 89 out of 180 (49.4%) did not know that they can get the HPV vaccine at the college student health center or youth friendly clinics.ConclusionA considerable proportion of college students are unaware of HPV disease, the age recommendations for the vaccine, who should receive the vaccine and where they can receive it. Educational programs targeting college students may be effective to close the HPV vaccine gaps.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.