‘I also want to be vaccinated!’ – adolescent boys’ awareness and thoughts, perceived benefits, information sources, and intention to be vaccinated against Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Figures & data

Table 1. Interview guide.

Initial information: Short presentation by the interviewer about the project, and to remind the student about his previous participation in the intervention, and that there are discussions in Sweden about HPV vaccination of boys, and that we are therefore interested in the opinion of boys on the subject.

What do you know about HPV? If the boy does not know anything about HPV, then the interviewer will briefly inform the boy about HPV and the HPV vaccine. HPV is a virus, that is spread through sexual contact, and most humans present an HPV infection sometime in their life time. HPV can cause condylomas (genital warts), some HPV-viruses can cause cancer, e.g. in the mouth and neck region, or cervical cancer. Vaccines against HPV protect against the most common HPV-types that cause condylomas and cancer. Only girls are offered HPV vaccination within the school based vaccination program.

What do you think about the fact that the Public Health Agency in Sweden is considering offering HPV-vaccination also to boys?

Would you want to be vaccinated if you were offered HPV vaccination free of charge? If yes, where would you like to be vaccinated?

What are the most important reasons to vaccinate boys (or not to vaccinate boys)?

What do you know about the correlation between sexual habits and HPV?

Which type of information would you like to get about the vaccine?

What information have you received so far about HPV?

What information would you need to make a decision regarding vaccination?

Have you received any information about HPV vaccination? If yes, by who? How would you like to get this information?

What do you think of vaccinations in general?

How do you discuss/talk about HPV vaccination among your peers?

Whose responsibility is it to protect against STIs?

Is there anything more you would like to say which I didn’t ask you about?

To conclude (the interviewer summarize the interview)…. have I understood you correctly? Thank you!

Table 2. Example of the analytic process.

Interview transcript	Initial coding framework	Category	Theme
”Yes I think… well if it’s… well girls and boys they should, I think they should always get equal treatment, like”. #2	Just and fair to vaccinate both sexes	Fair is fair – protect both girls and boys against HPV	Promotion of Equal Health
”I would think, one should also get vaccinated since it’s not about girls, it’s about boys as well. If boys don’t get virus, I mean in his body, then it won’t spread anywhere, and then everyone here in Sweden will become safer, so well it’s not just about sexes, it’s about people” #1	Stop the spread of the virus	For the benefit of others’ health

Figure 1. Overview themes and categories.