HPV vaccine acceptability in HIV-infected and HIV negative men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ireland

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic and behavioral characteristics of participants (n = 302).

Background Characteristics	n	(%)^a
Age group
18–30	117	39
31–40	87	29
41–60	97	32
Highest education level attained
Secondary School/equivalent or lower	60	21
College or above	223	79
Diagnosed as having a sexually transmitted infection in the past 12 months^b
No	209	70
Yes	90	30
Ever had unprotected anal intercourse with a male partner
No	68	23
Yes	231	77
Number of male partners that you have had anal intercourse with in the past 12 months
0	44	15
1	69	23
2–5	120	40
>6	67	22
HIV-positive	156	52

^a Proportion of respondents for each characteristic. Missing data not shown.

^b Based on self-reporting, includes chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital warts and genital herpes.

Table 2. Knowledge and perceived severity of HPV infection.

Knowledge of HPV Infection	N	(%)^a
HPV can affect men
No	15	5
Yes^*	172	58
Don't know	110	37
HPV can be treated with antibiotics
No^*	65	22
Yes	51	17
Don't know	177	60
HPV infection can commonly lead to death
No^*	48	16
Yes	64	22
Don't know	180	62
Perceived Susceptibility to HPV
The chance of you catching HPV infection is
Low	56	22
Moderate	112	44
High	84	33
Prevalence of HPV infection in MSM in Ireland is
Low	52	22
Moderate	129	54
High	58	24
The infectivity of HPV is
Low	36	15
Moderate	99	41
High	105	44
Perceived Severity of HPV Infection
The chance of HPV infection impacting on physical health is
Low	62	27
Moderate	113	46
High	60	28
The chance of HPV infection causing genital warts is
Low	41	17
Moderate	87	36
High	111	46
The chance of HPV infection causing penile/anal cancer is
Low	62	26
Moderate	113	48
High	60	26

^a Proportion of respondents for each characteristic. Missing data not shown.

* Appropriate response

Table 3. HPV vaccine knowledge/perceived efficacy of HPV vaccine.

HPV vaccine knowledge	n	(%)^a
An effective HPV vaccine is available for men
No	30	11
Yes^*	87	31
Don't know	167	59
The number of shots of HPV vaccine required is
1–2	108	54
3^*	64	32
4 or above	29	14
The best age to receive HPV vaccine is
30 years or above	36	18
Below 30 years^*	170	82
Perceptions relating to HPV vaccine
The HPV vaccine is effective in preventing genital warts
Not effective	12	4
Effective	82	30
Don't know	180	66
The HPV vaccine is effective in preventing penile and anal cancer
Not effective	18	7
Effective	71	26
Don't know	189	68
The HPV vaccine is effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections other than genital warts
Not effective	59	21
Effective	40	14
Don't know	178	64
The HPV vaccine is too expensive
No	36	13
Yes	29	11
Don't know	212	77
The HPV vaccine could have side effects
No	19	7
Yes	69	25
Don't know	189	68

^a Proportion of respondents for each characteristic. Missing data not shown.

* Appropriate response

Table 4. Intention to take up HPV vaccine.

Intention to take up HPV vaccine	n	(%)^a
Do you plan to take up HPV vaccine in the next 6 months?
Yes	87	31
No	42	15
Don't know	152	54
Would you take the HPV vaccine if it was 90% effective in preventing genital warts, 75% effective in preventing anal cancer and cost €300 in total?
Yes	144	51
No	48	17
Don't know	87	31
Would you take the HPV vaccine if it was 90% effective in preventing genital warts, 75% effective in preventing anal cancer at a discounted price of €100 in total?
Yes	179	65
No	21	8
Don't know	76	28
Would you take the HPV vaccine if it was 90% effective in preventing genital warts, 75% effective in preventing anal cancer and free?
Yes	217	78
No	3	1
Don't know	57	21

^a Proportion of respondents for each characteristic. Missing data not shown.

Table 5. Background Characteristics significantly associated with HPV vaccine acceptability (n = 277).

	P value	OR(u)	95%CI
Demographic data
Higher education level attained	0.01	3.01	1.57–5.749
Correct knowledge items relating to HPV infection/ vaccine
HPV can affect men	0.01	4.87	2.62–9.05
HPV can be treated with antibiotics	0.03	2.57	1.1–5.99
Best age to receive vaccine	0.01	1.29	0.15–11.26
Perceptions regarding HPV infection/ vaccine
The chance of HPV impacting on health is moderate/high	0.01	2.65	1.32–5.35
HPV vaccine effective preventing genital warts	0.02	2.54	1.17–5.48
HPV vaccine effective preventing anal/penile cancer	0.01	4.08	1.55–10.72
Not effective preventing other STI	0.01	3.96	1.36–11.49
HPV vaccine is expensive	0.07	6.45	0.85–49.07
Vaccine has side effects	0.01	3.67	1.5–8.97

Abbreviations: STI, Sexually Transmitted Infection, OR, Odds ratio, CI, confidence interval