title: Human Papillomavirus awareness, knowledge and vaccine acceptance: a survey among 18-25 year old male and female vocational school students in Berlin, Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection and is aetiologically linked with a number of health problems. In Germany, HPV vaccination for cervical cancer prevention is recommended for girls aged 12-17 years since 2007; however, a coordinated national immunization programme does not exist. We assessed whether socio-demographic factors and sexual history are associated with awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine, vaccine uptake and HPV-related knowledge among young women and men.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2010, a survey was conducted with 18- to 25-year-old students from six vocational schools in Berlin. A total of 259 women and 245 men completed the questionnaire that included socio-demographic and sexual behaviour characteristics, questions about HPV awareness, vaccine status, reasons for not wanting to get vaccinated and HPV-related knowledge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among women aged 18-20 years (those eligible for reimbursed vaccination), 67% were vaccinated. At trend level, women with low education and those without past sexual intercourse were less likely to be vaccinated. Ninety-five per cent of the women and 80% of the men were aware of the 'vaccine against cervical cancer', but only half of the women and 25% of the men had heard of HPV. Knowledge was poor (M = 2.8; SD = 2.10 for women and M = 1.5; SD = 1.49 for men; possible range 0-11). Fifty-one per cent of the women and 42% of the men thought that only women can be infected with HPV and the majority did not know that HPV is sexually transmitted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate a need for better education about HPV that should extend beyond its link with cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Berlin School of Public Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blödt
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holmberg
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller-Nordhorn
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rieckmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012574:Schools; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines