Only 1 in every 10 men know about HPV transmission
A recent Danish study with just about 20,000 Danish men, shows that only 1 in every ten men aged 18 to 45 years, have knowledge of HPV - the virus which for men can lead to penile and anal cancer and cervical cancer for women.
Evidence indicates, that men walks around thinking that the HPV virus does not affect them. But men actually do have a great responsibility.
-They do, as HPV is a virus, primarily spread sexually. It is for that reason awfully essential that men are aware, that they are carriers in relation to women and cervical cancer and that they can get for example, penile cancer, anal cancer and certain forms of cancer of the head and neck region, “says researcher Ann Nielsen from the Danish Cancer Fighting, who is the main author of the study.
The research reveals that few men have knowledge of about HPV, and this is regardless of whether they are 18 or 45 years.
-For women, research illustrate that older women have greater knowledge of HPV rather than younger women. Yet this does not apply to men, says Ann Nielsen.
While there has been an increasing understanding of HPV and vaccines, Ann Nielsen does not feel that it has reached the men yet.
-When we asked the men, there were an initial awareness of HPV. The first vaccine against cervical cancer was - at the time - just entering the Danish market, explains Ann Nielsen.
HPV is mainly sexually transmitted
At present all girls born in Denmark in 1996 or later are offered a without charge HPV vaccination as part of the general vaccination program. Moreover, all girls born in 1993, 1994 and 1995 received the offer of free vaccination. So far Danish boys will not be offered free vaccination.
Ann Nielsen points out that there really is a vast need for information efforts towards men.
- Not just with regard to sexual life. We also have to do with a target audience - fathers with children who are offered vaccination. It is exceedingly vital that their information is high, when they should think about whether their daughter should be vaccinated, says Ann Nielsen.
Need for information
American research have also shown, that an increased focus on HPV means an increased knowledge.
In the U.S., the number of anal cancer and head and neck cancer incidents has grown.
-We estimate that the same applies in Denmark. And we must not lose sight of the genital warts - something that many men and women suffer from. We estimate that around 10 percent of all men, at some time in their lives, become infected with genital warts. Therefore, it is completely crucial to have knowledge and information out to the audience, says Ann Nielsen.
The study is published in European Journal of Cancer Prevention.
Tags: cancer anal, cancer of the head and neck, danish boys, hpv virus, target audience, vaccination program