Do boys have the same intentions to get the HPV vaccine as girls? Knowledge, attitudes, and intentions in France

Background The vaccine coverage against human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination remains low in France. The objective of this study was to study adolescent perceptions by comparing boys and girls, in order to build effective school-based interventions. Methods This paper presents a cross-sectional study in French middle school pupils. They completed online questionnaires on their knowledge and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine, HPV vaccination status, their intention, reasons to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, and psychological antecedents of vaccination. A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used to test the hypothesized model. Results The participants are 818 pupils aged from 12 to 16 years (Mage = 13.78). Most pupils were in the pre-contemplative stage (62.7 % of boys and 40.8 % of girls). SEM analysis indicated that the relationship between the level of HPV knowledge, the representations of vaccines in general, and vaccine intention was mediated by attitudes towards the HPV vaccine among both boys and girls. Conclusions These findings reveal a high percentage of boys who do not feel concerned by the HPV vaccine and highlight the need to consider the psychological antecedents of vaccination in general in addition to the specific attitudes to the HPV vaccine.