title: Attitudes and Perceptions of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in Caribbean and African American Adolescent boys and Their Parents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. The prevalence of HPV in men ranges from 20% to 65% and is high at all ages. HPV vaccine has high efficacy in preventing HPV infection, cervical cancer, and genital warts. The study objectives were to describe attitudes and perceptions toward acceptability of HPV vaccination among inner-city Caribbean and African American adolescent boys and their parents and to identify and discuss correlates that may be associated with these factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey, administered in a general adolescent medicine clinic. Participants were recruited from a convenience sample of adolescent boys aged 13 to 19 years currently under care at an adolescent medicine clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses of 101 adolescent boys and 35 parents were analyzed. Consistent condom use was associated with less interest in HPV vaccination; those reporting consistent condom use had an 88% decreased odds of being interested in HPV vaccination compared with those reporting inconsistent condom uses. Interest in receiving the HPV vaccine was significantly associated with having increased numbers of sexual partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, most adolescent males (65%) were interested in receiving the HPV vaccine and a majority believed their parents would allow the vaccination (77.2%). Parental knowledge that the majority of cervical and rectal cancers are caused by HPV increased the odds of parents believing their sons need HPV vaccination; however, it is not statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, New York. Electronic address: sarahshao.ahf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: SUNY Downstate Medical Center School of Public Health, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nurse
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.affiliation: SUNY Downstate Medical Center School of Public Health, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Suss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D017691:Caribbean Region; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: Adolescent boys; Adolescents; African American; Caribbean American; HPV; HPV vaccine update; Vaccines