Examining Facilitators of HPV Vaccination Uptake in Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Cross-Sectional Survey Design

Selma Stearns, Samantha L. Quaife and Alice Forster
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Selma Stearns: Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Samantha L. Quaife: Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Alice Forster: Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-8

Abstract: Men who have sex with men (MSM) in England are eligible for vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) via specialist sexual health services and HIV clinics. Uptake among clinic attendees is incomplete, but the reason for this is unclear. We do not know who is accessing and being offered the vaccine. This cross-sectional study conducted in England examined socio-demographic correlates of vaccine uptake for MSM and how frequently the vaccine is being offered in clinics. MSM completed an online questionnaire asking about socio-demographic characteristics, whether they had recently attended a sexual health or HIV clinic, and if so, whether they had been offered the vaccine, and vaccination status. Around 52% of MSM ( N = 115; mean age = 30.2) had received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 70% of clinic attendees had been offered the vaccine. MSM were more likely to have initiated the vaccine series if they were homosexual (versus bisexual; OR: 5.22; 95% CI: 1.55–17.51) or had heard about the vaccine from one or two types of sources (versus no sources: OR: 14.70; 95% CI: 4.00–54.00 and OR: 26.00; 5.74–117.77 respectively). Initiation was not associated with age, ethnicity, education level, or number of sexual partners. Hepatitis B vaccination status was associated with vaccination initiation only in unadjusted models. The majority of eligible MSM are being offered the vaccine in clinics. Socio-demographic differences in uptake of the HPV vaccine among MSM may lead to inequalities in HPV-related disease.

Keywords: men who have sex with men; human papillomavirus; sexually transmitted infections; sexual health; vaccination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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