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Medscape
4 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Over A Third of US Adults Are Unaware of HPV
TOPLINE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) awareness remained critically low across the US between 2017 and 2020, with over one third of adults unaware of HPV and its corresponding vaccine. This was particularly true in Midwestern and Southern states, regions in which HPV-associated cancers are rising, and vaccination rates are suboptimal. METHODOLOGY: About 48,000 HPV-associated cancers are diagnosed annually in the US, predominantly in Midwestern and Southern states. Public awareness of HPV and its vaccine is crucial for increasing vaccination rates and preventing these cancers. Using data from the 2017-2020 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5 Cycles 1-4 and 2022 HINTS Cycle 6 in the US, researchers assessed the awareness of HPV, HPV vaccine, and its role in causing cervical and oral cancers among 22,344 respondents (mean age, 49 years; 51.1% women). Participants responded to questions such as 'Have you ever heard of HPV?' and 'Before today, have you ever heard of the cervical cancer vaccine or HPV shot?' Those who had heard of HPV were asked, 'Do you think HPV can cause oral cancer?' and 'Do you think HPV can cause cervical cancer?' A response of 'no' or 'not sure' indicated lack of awareness about HPV. TAKEAWAY: Overall, 34.3% of adults lacked awareness about HPV, whereas 37.6% were unaware of the HPV vaccine. Among those aware of HPV, 70.8% did not know HPV causes oral cancer, whereas 28.3% were unaware of its link to cervical cancer. More than 60% of individuals in 45 states and Washington, DC, were unaware that HPV causes oral cancer, whereas unawareness of its link to cervical cancer varied widely (6.9%-57.4%). Awareness about HPV was lacking in over 40% of adults in seven states, predominantly from the Midwest and the South. Likewise, awareness about HPV vaccine was lacking in more than 40% of adults in 13 states, with nine being from the Midwest and the South. IN PRACTICE: 'In conclusion, given the importance of timely HPV vaccination and the risk of early-life exposure, there is a critical need to enhance HPV awareness among adolescents, young adults, parents or caregivers, and pediatric and adult healthcare professionals,' the authors of the study wrote. SOURCE: This study, led by Ashvita Garg, PhD, MPH, MBBS, Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, was published online in JAMA Oncology. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional nature of the data prevented causal inferences, while the ecological nature of the analyses and limited sample sizes for certain states affected the generalizability of findings. DISCLOSURES: The research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the National Library of Medicine, and the National Cancer Institute. One author disclosed receiving personal fees from Merck, grants and nonfinancial support from Stryker, and serving as deputy editor for JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Another author reported receiving personal fees from Value Analytics Labs, outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Map Shows States With Most HPV-Related Cancers as 1 in 3 Unaware of Link
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. People in some U.S. states are more likely to be diagnosed with HPV-associated cancers than in others—with this discrepancy likely linked to awareness of the risk from the virus. Overall, one in three adults nationally are unaware of the connection between HPV and cancer, reveals a study from the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center in South Carolina. HPV, or the human papillomavirus, is spread by skin-to-skin contact and has been linked to the onset of six different types of cancer. It is responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancers, causes the majority of throat or 'oropharyngeal' cancers and can cause anal, penile, vaginal and vulvar cancers. "Awareness of HPV in the general population is an important determinant of preventative care uptake," MUSC researcher Kalyani Sonawane told Newsweek. Such measures, she explained, include the HPV vaccine and cervical cancers screening. "Achieving adequate HPV vaccine coverage is critical for eliminating these cancers." State-level data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—see map above—shows geographical differences in the diagnoses of HPV-associated cancers. At joint top of the list, Kentucky and West Virginia recorded 16.9 HPV-associated cancer cases per 100,000 residents in 2022 (the year with the most recent available data.) However, at the bottom of the list, North Dakota recorded just 8.3 HPV-associated cancer cases per 100,000 residents in the same year. According to the new study, around a third of Americans are not aware of either HPV or that a vaccine exists against it—despite this protection having been available for nearly two decades in the U.S. This lack of awareness is heightened in the Midwest and South, the researchers noted. For example, more than 40 percent of people in 13 states—including South Carolina—are unaware there is a vaccine against HPV. "In general, literacy levels (overall and health literacy) are lower in the U.S. South and Midwest, which is likely a reason why we found a lack of HPV awareness concentrated in states in these regions," explained Sonawane. The team used data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a survey conducted by the National Cancer Institute, to inform their research. Sonawane said that the CDC data "further highlights the need for increasing HPV awareness in Southern and Midwestern states"—where cases of HPV-related cancer also tend to be more common. The vaccine is the "first and best defense" against HPV-caused cancers, the researchers said. It is routinely recommended for children aged 11–12 years (and can be started as early as nine years). Catch-up vaccination is recommended through age 26. Additionally, adults aged 27–45 might be able to receive the vaccine after consultation with their healthcare provider. Doctor examining throat of male patient. Doctor examining throat of male research from Europe and the U.S. shows a significant reduction in cervical cancer cases in young women—likely due to them being the first group to have been vaccinated as children—there's a bigger picture to consider. Cervical cancer may show up when people are in their 30s or 40s, but oropharyngeal cancers are mostly diagnosed when people are in their 50s or 60s, the researchers warn. Sonawane noted that the biggest knowledge gap is in relation to oropharyngeal cancer. Across the nation, 70 percent of those who have heard about HPV did not know that it can lead to throat cancer. The vaccine is now approved for boys too, but their vaccination rates remain lower than among girls. "The HPV vaccine was first approved for the prevention of cervical cancer in women and was therefore heavily marketed toward women. This 'feminization' of the HPV vaccine continues to linger—and is likely a reason why most people have heard of HPV and cervical cancer, but not of its link with oral cancers," Sonawane explained. "Boys and men can also get HPV-associated oral, penile, and anal cancers; therefore, getting the HPV vaccine is equally important for males." While the pandemic interrupted measures of preventive care—including the HPV vaccination and screening for breast, cervical and colon cancers—an American Cancer Society report showed screening for breast and colon cancers has since rebounded. However, both cervical cancer screening—which is not a test for cancer, but a test to help prevent cancer—and HPV vaccination rates have not similarly recovered. "Prevention is always better than a cure. We have a safe and effective vaccine to prevent six cancers," Sonawane said. She concluded: "Going forward, we need to ensure that every child and eligible adult is protected from HPV-related cancers by ensuring they are offered the opportunity—i.e., the HPV vaccine—for preventing these cancers." Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about HPV? Let us know via health@ Reference Garg, A., Damgacioglu, H., Graboyes, E. M., Seal, S., Deshmukh, A. A., & Sonawane, K. (2025). State-level public awareness of HPV, HPV vaccine, and association with cancer. JAMA Oncology. Star, J., Han, X., Smith, R. A., Schafer, E. J., Jemal, A., & Bandi, P. (2025). Cancer Screening 3 Years After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA, 333(17), 1543–1546.
