HPV unvaccinated status and HPV morbidity risk are common among Canadian university students

Abstract

The current study aimed to extend existing research concerning HPV vaccination rates, sexual behaviour practices, and risk of HPV-related morbidity and mortality among Canadian university students. A survey research firm recruited an online sample of Canadian university students between 18 and 24 years of age and from across Canada for a study of student sexual health. The current report represents a secondary analysis of responses to this sexual health survey that is focused on HPV morbidity risk. An analysis sample of 1,412 university students responded to an assessment of demographic characteristics, HPV vaccination status (vaccinated or unvaccinated), and recent and lifetime sexual behaviours and condom use. Conservative estimates indicated that approximately one-quarter of university student women, at least two-thirds of university student men, and at least one-third of trans/non-binary university students had not been vaccinated against HPV. Recent and lifetime sexual behaviours of HPV vaccinated and HPV unvaccinated university students were strikingly similar. HPV unvaccinated status, HPV-risk sexual behaviour, and HPV-related morbidity and mortality risk were very common in this national sample of Canadian university students. Cost-free catch-up HPV vaccination programs for unvaccinated university students are urgently needed to mitigate substantial HPV-related health risks in this population.