Revisiting Global HPV Vaccination Behavior and Its Determinants: A Comprehensive Review

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the resulting penile, anal, oropharyngeal and cervical cancer impact the health and welfare of men and women. The HPV vaccine has emerged as the most effective method to combat HPV. This study comprehensively analyzes the key influencing factors of global HPV vaccination behavior.

This systematic review synthesizes evidence on global HPV vaccination behaviors and determinants. We searched three major databases PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus for peer-reviewed literature published between 2018 and 2023. Studies from diverse geographical regions and population subgroups were analyzed using thematic synthesis and narrative approaches.

In the published literature, men and men who have sex with men (MSM) were under-represented groups. Both subjective and objective determinants influenced HPV vaccination behavior, including parental attitudes, knowledge of health professionals and gendered views about HPV risks. In the studies reviewed, HPV vaccination rates were low globally, with few countries achieving vaccination rates above 70%.

Key HPV vaccination determinants included education level, parental attitudes, knowledge and awareness of HPV and its vaccine and acceptance of the HPV vaccine. Based on the literature survey, we provide recommendations for governments and health institutions to improve gender-specific HPV vaccination rates, including MSM.