HPV Knowledge and HPV Vaccine Uptake among US Navy Personnel 18 to 26 Years Old

The HPV vaccine is recommended for males and females ages 9 to 26 years. Although research suggests high HPV rates in uniformed personnel; United States (U.S.) military studies report lower vaccination uptake rates than the national average. There are a few studies that examine HPV in female military personnel; however, there are no military studies that examine HPV knowledge and HPV vaccine uptake among genders. The long term objective is to establish a baseline level of HPV knowledge and HPV vaccine uptake among service members for immunization campaigns in the U.S. Navy (USN). 

The study’s three aims are to: 1) describe the general HPV knowledge, HPV testing knowledge, HPV vaccination knowledge, HPV vaccine uptake, and socio-demographics 2) describe the relationship between HPV knowledge, HPV vaccine uptake, and socio-demographics and 3) identify select variables accounting for variance in HPV vaccine uptake among USN personnel 18 to 26 years of age. The study will use a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational research design using an Internet-delivered survey. This design will collect a large amount of data in a short period of time on a representative subset of USN personnel. Participants will be USN, Active Duty or Activated Reservists, 18 to 26 years of age stationed in San Diego, California. Participants will be recruited using advertisements via emails, flyers, poster, and command announcements. The total sample size is 250 participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be used to analyze the results. Descriptive statistics will be utilized to describe the general HPV knowledge, HPV testing knowledge, HPV vaccination knowledge, and socio-demographics using frequency distributions and measures of central tendency. Bivariate analysis will be used to determine the relationship between HPV knowledge (general, testing and vaccination knowledge), HPV vaccine uptake, and socio-demographic factors. Logistic regression will be used to determine factors that account for variance in HPV vaccine uptake among USN personnel. Analyses will be carried out using SSPS and the level of significance set at p 0.05.  

The results will enhance existing knowledge within military research, and allow health care professionals and policy makers to further understand the content needed to develop effective HPV immunization programs and policies. The results will assist in developing programs targeted to increase awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine, thereby decreasing HPV-related disease and eliminating barriers to the HPV vaccine.

Final Report is available on NTRL: https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/PB2018101...