Boys Get the Cervical Cancer Virus? Understanding How Parents of Boys Feel About the HPV Vaccine

Abstract

Goal: The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that can lead to several cancers in men and women (Markowitz, 2007). The vaccine was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006 and was marketed as a vaccine for girls aged 9 to 26 to fight against cervical cancer. In 2009, the FDA with guidance from the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices approved the vaccine for boys as well (FDA, 2010). Both vaccines are now recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for adolescent males and females (CDC, 2015). The U.S. Health and Human Services “Healthy People 2020” campaign has a goal of 80 percent uptake of three doses of the HPV vaccine for girls and boys by the year 2020. However, vaccine rates are low – only 38 percent of females and 14 percent of males receive all three doses of the HPV vaccine (Stokely et al, 2014). The results of this study will help guide campaigns to increase the uptake of this anti-cancer vaccine to meet this ambitious goal. Much of the existing literature looks at parental attitudes toward daughters receiving the vaccine. The purpose of this study is to understand parental attitudes toward the vaccine for sons that are potential barriers to vaccination. Theoretical framework/theories used: For this research, we used the Health Belief Model and the Social Learning Therapy.Research question: Do parents of male children have the same interests and concerns about the HPV vaccine as to the parents of female children?Method: Thomas and colleagues (2013) created a nurse-led survey instrument to gauge parental attitudes, primarily of parents of females, toward the vaccine. For this study, the survey instrument has been altered to specifically focus on parents of boys aged 18 and younger and their knowledge and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine for their sons. Open ended-questions also collected qualitative data that was analyzed. Results: A total of 252 surveys were initiated and 185 surveys were ultimately completed. The results show that generally parents are supportive of the HPV vaccine. Thirty-two percent of respondents said their sons had already received the HPV and 60 percent of parents said they would have their sons vaccinated for the vaccine, even if it is not required by a school mandate. Overall, parents of boys still have a lot to learn about HPV and how it is spread. Only 26 percent of respondents correctly recognized that condoms are not effective at stopping the spread of HPV while 26 percent also believed that a person with HPV is unable to have children. That said, they did correctly identify that HPV is related to cancer. Eighty-five percent of respondents correctly identified that HPV can cause cervical and anal cancers in women. Forty-nine percent of respondents correctly identified that HPV leads to penile, anal and testicular cancers. However, more telling is that 45 percent of respondents are unsure if HPV leads to those cancers in men.