Feasibility of a Catch-up HPV Vaccination Program Among College Students Attending a Large Rural University in the South

Abstract

Our study explored the eligibility and willingness of students to participate in a university-wide catch-up Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program. A total of 1804 electronic surveys (82% response) assessing demographics, HPV knowledge, eligibility, and willingness were gathered. HPV knowledge was moderate, with just over a quarter (26%) answering all knowledge items correctly. Most understood that HPV is sexually transmitted (82%) while fewer knew HPV can cause cancer in men (40%) and that a vaccine is available for men (32%). Eligibility (71%) and willingness (71%) to receive school-based HPV vaccinations was high. These data support developing a college-wide catch-up HPV vaccination program.

KEYWORDS:

• Human papillomavirus
• HPV vaccine
• college students
• cervical cancer
• catch-up vaccination