HPV Unvaccinated Status and HPV Sexual Risk Behaviour are Common among Canadian Young Adult Women and Men
(2018) Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada — Vol. 40, n° 4, p. 410-417 (2018)
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- Objective The current research focuses on sexual risk behaviour among young adult Canadians who have not been vaccinated against HPV. Methods Six hundred and forty-six Canadian university undergraduates completed a self-administered survey assessing HPV vaccination status and sexual risk behaviour. Results Five hundred and thirty-seven participants (154 men and 383 women aged 17–23) who met eligibility criteria were analyzed. 48.5% (n = 185) of female and 89.6% (n = 138) of male participants had not been vaccinated against HPV. In the unvaccinated cohort, 51.4% (n = 95) of women were coitally experienced, 49.2% (n = 91) reported experience with oral sex, and 6.5% (n = 12) reported experience with receptive anal intercourse. 55.1% (n = 76) of men were coitally experienced, 22.5% (n = 31) of men reported receptive oral sex, and 2.9% (n = 4) of men reported receptive anal intercourse. Using validated sexual risk behaviour cut-offs, we determined that in the female unvaccinated population, the proportion at significantly increased risk for genital warts, cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancer was 11.0%, 30.0%, 6.5%, and 49.2% respectively. In the male unvaccinated population, the proportion at significantly elevated risk for genital warts and anal cancer was 27.2% and 2.9% respectively. Conclusion Unvaccinated young Canadian women and men commonly engaged in sexual risk behaviours for HPV infection, engaged in sexual risk behaviours at a similar level as their vaccinated counterparts, and a substantial number were at elevated risk of HPV related morbidities at a young age. Findings contribute to an evidence-based case for redoubling efforts to encourage HPV vaccination among unvaccinated young Canadians who are at risk of HPV infection.
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Zimmermann, M., Kohut, T., & Fisher, W. A. (2018). HPV Unvaccinated Status and HPV Sexual Risk Behaviour are Common among Canadian Young Adult Women and Men. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 40(4), 410-417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2017.09.021 (Original work published 2018)