Table 2.

HPV Knowledge: Summary of Themes.

What do you know about HPV or human papillomavirus?

Correct information

“That you can get cancer. That it can come from sex or oral sex.”

“It’s spread by sex. Don’t remember much else.”

“My mom said something about it having to do with cancer.”

Nothing. Never heard of it

“I’ve heard of it but don’t know anything.”

“Nothing at all.”

“I’ve heard of it, but don’t remember what it is.”

Information and misinformation

“Don’t really know that much about it. Is it like—he [father’s friend] said it was something like people are born with and they never know they have it.”

“Spread by cough and stuff like that.”

I got the shot, but

“I just know I got a shot for it, but I don’t know the long-term meaning of that.”

“I took shots for it, but didn’t know what it was for.”

“HPV stands for human papillomavirus. It really doesn’t show up on males, ie, you don’t have the symptoms, you won’t necessarily know you have it.”