Cervical cancer, which is due to an infection from the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the eighth most common malignity in Hungary. The virus in males, among many others, may cause genital warts, penile cancer or anal cancer. Throughout the country, 12-13-year-old girls receive the HPV vaccine as part of the school vaccination campaign since September 2014.
Our aim was to assess the knowledge of young Hungarian men regarding the HPV infection and cervical cancer, and to examine their attitude towards the HPV vaccine.
We conducted a cross sectional analysis between March 2013 and May 2014 with the distribution of questionnaires in the Hungarian capital in 19 randomly selected secondary schools among 530 senior male students, above the age of 18. The 54 multiple choice questions referred to their socio-demographic background, their lifestyle factors, their knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer and their attitude towards the HPV vaccine.
Only 35.3% of the young men knew HPV was an STD, and only 3.5% was aware of the possibility of transmission via skin contact. The majority, 52.5% had already heard that the infection can cause cervical cancer, however less than 10% was able to relate it to other diseases. The risk factors of HPV infection was relatively unknown to the boys, only a third of them had heard of promiscuity as a risk factor. As for the HPV vaccine, 7.6% had already received it and further 6.8% would like to be vaccinated. 44.7% of the young men would have their future children vaccinated, while 24.5% remain indecisive for now. Approximately one out of four students would make the HPV vaccine compulsory (25.5%), 38.9% cannot decide right now. 56% trust the vaccine with doubts.
The knowledge of young men studying in Budapest regarding HPV and cervical cancer was poor. Their attitude toward the HPV vaccine was relatively positive.