HPV-related information sharing and factors associated with U.S. men's disclosure of an HPV test result to their female sexual partners.
OBJECTIVE
Prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) is high in both men and women, yet men have seldom been involved in HPV education/prevention programmes, and their disclosure of known HPV infection has rarely been studied. This analysis sought to determine factors associated with men's HPV test result disclosure and HPV-related information sharing with partners.


METHODS
From 2007 to 2010, men enrolled in a psychosocial study of responses to HP testing who reported having a female main sexual partner (N=251) completed surveys including questions about HPV test results, disclosure of HPV test results to partner(s), relationship characteristics and stigma (for those who reported HPV-positive results) approximately 3 weeks after receiving an HPV test result. Logistic regression was conducted to determine factors associated with disclosure of HPV test results in cross-sectional analysis.


RESULTS
Most men disclosed their test results to a main partner (82%). Self-reported HPV-negative test result, a high school education and a higher commitment to a sexual partner were significantly associated with increased disclosure in multivariable analysis. Men who disclosed (vs those who did not) were significantly more likely to provide their partners with HPV-related information. Among men who disclosed to their main partner, nearly half reported that partner asked them questions about HPV.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study highlight the critical role that men who are symptomatic for, who are tested for or who are vaccinated against HPV can play in educating their sexual partners, independent of whether they actually disclose their test results.
Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
Stephanie L
SL
Marhefka
Ellen M
EM
Daley
Erica Hesch
EH
Anstey
Cheryl A
CA
Vamos
Eric R
ER
Buhi
Stephanie
S
Kolar
Anna R
AR
Giuliano
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult