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

ABSTRACT

This study investigates boys’ awareness and thoughts about human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination, perceived benefits of vaccinating men, information sources and intention to be vaccinated against HPV. We used a qualitative approach and interviews were conducted with 31 upper secondary school male students. Two main themes 1) Promotion of equal health and 2) Increased knowledge facilitates the decision about HPV vaccination emerged from the analysis. The informants believed that it was important and fair to protect boys and girls equally against HPV. If HPV vaccination could prevent both girls and boys against an HPV-related disease, there was nothing to question or to discuss. It was not a matter of sex; it was a matter of equal rights. Moreover, an important reason for vaccinating boys was to prevent the transmission of the virus. However, the boys felt unsure and stated that they needed to know more. The school nurse and the school health were considered suitable both for distributing information and for providing the vaccinations.

In conclusion, the participants were in favor of introducing HPV vaccination also for boys in the national vaccination program. Sex-neutral HPV vaccinations were viewed both as a way to stop the virus transmission and a means to promote equal health for the entire population.

Keywords:

• Awareness
• boys
• equal health
• gender neutral vaccination
• health belief model
• human papillomavirus
• immunization program
• sex-neutral vaccination
• school health

Acknowledgments

We thank all the participating boys. A special thanks to the school nurses and the principals of the schools.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by [the Swedish Cancer Society] grant number [130744], [Uppsala-Örebro Regional Research Council] grant number [RFR-387561/476021]. In addition, Maria Grandahl received a scholarship from Gillbergska foundation. The sponsors had no role in the design of the study or in how it was conducted, including collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data as well as preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript and finally, the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.