Demographic Influences on Adult HPV Vaccination: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey in Tennessee

Abstract

HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the U.S., with more than 80% of all Americans contracting it by age 45. Effective vaccines for HPV exist and were recently approved for adults aged 27–45 years, though uptake remains low in all age groups, particularly in Tennessee where 1089 cancers were attributed to HPV in 2020. Between 29 June and 17 August 2023, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to gain insights about the barriers and facilitators of HPV in 2011 adults aged 18 to 45 years in Tennessee. We developed our survey based on previous instruments to understand predictors of HPV vaccination in adults. Using descriptive statistics and bivariate and logistic regression analyses, we found higher vaccination rates in females, participants aged 18–38 years, participants with a high school education or higher, Hispanic or Latine individuals, and participants identifying as moderate or liberal. These insights highlight the need for public health interventions that consider demographic differences to successfully increase vaccination rates and reduce HPV-associated cancer risk.