Human Papillomavirus Knowledge and Human Papillomavirus Uptake Among U.S. Navy Personnel 18 to 26 Years of Age

<p>High human papillomavirus (HPV) incidence rates occur in the military and are one of the leading medical events in the armed forces. Although there are high HPV rates in uniformed personnel, the U.S. military reports lower vaccination uptake rates than the national average. The HPV vaccine is recommended for males and females ages 9 to 26 years.</p> <p>The aims of this study were to (a) describe the general HPV knowledge, HPV testing knowledge, HPV vaccination knowledge, HPV vaccine uptake, and socio-demographics; (b) describe the relationship between HPV knowledge, HPV vaccine uptake, and socio-demographics; and (c) identify select variables that determine the odds of HPV vaccine uptake among U.S. Navy personnel ages 18 to 26 years. The cross-sectional, correlational research design used an Internet-delivered survey.</p> <p>Participants (N = 233) were U.S. Navy personnel stationed in the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The median age was 22 (IQR = 3), the majority were white (53.9%) and single (32.8%), and 96 (41.2%) had obtained the vaccine. Participants who completed the 16-item HPV knowledge scale, a 6-item HPV testing knowledge scale, and a 13-item HPV knowledge had scores of Mdn = 10 (Range = 16), Mdn = 2 (Range = 6), and Mdn = 6 (Range = 12), respectively. Older, White, females, with a higher paygrade, had received the vaccine, heard of HPV testing, served longer in the military, and U.S. born had a higher overall HPV knowledge (p < 0.05). Factors that significantly increased the odds of HPV vaccine included participants’ belief that their chain of command strongly agrees (OR = 14.34) or agrees (OR = 11.1); gender (OR = 4.52); learned about the vaccine from providers, media (OR = 0.17), or the Internet (OR = 0.10); and HPV vaccine knowledge scores (OR = 1.46) (p < 0.05).</p> <p>Results will enhance existing knowledge within research by allowing health care professionals and policy makers to further understand the content needed to develop effective HPV immunization programs and policies. Furthermore, the results will assist in eliminating barriers to the HPV vaccine among U. S. Navy personnel by increasing awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD Nursing

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation: USD Users Only

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Buechel, Jennifer Jean

• HPV
• HPV Vaccine
• Human Papillomavirus
• Human Papillomavrius Vaccine
• U.S. Military
• U.S. Navy
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Nursing

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/42

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.sandiego.edu:dissertations-1037