Awareness of the link between HPV and cancer according to cancer type and gender in the US from 2014–2020

Sep 22, 2026

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Sociodemographic variation in US public awareness of the HPV–cancer link has been reported, yet the role of cancer type and gender remains unclear. This study analyzed trends in self-reported awareness of the causal HPV–cancer relationship from 2014 to 2020 using Health Information National Trends Survey data. Outcomes covered cervical, anal, penile, and oral cancers, with 10,933 participants included. Awareness was highest for cervical cancer but declined, whereas other cancer types were low and largely stable, with cancer-specific gender differences changing over time.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

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Abstract

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HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS 2026, VOL. 22, NO. 1, 2610894 [https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2025.2610894](https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2025.2610894) RESEARCH ARTICLE Awareness of the link between HPV and cancer according to cancer type and gender in the US from 2014–2020 Joël Fokom Domguea,b,c, Nada Al-Antaryd, Mary A Gerende, Mrudula Naird, Dina K Abouelellaf, Heena Khang, Nosayaba Osazuwa-Petersf,h,i, and Eric Adjei Boakye d,j,k,l aDepartment of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; bDivision of Cancer Prevention and Population Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; cDepartment of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; dDepartment of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, USA; e Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA; fDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; gCollege of Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO, USA; hDuke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; iDepartment of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; jDepartment of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, USA; kHenry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA; lDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA ABSTRACT While sociodemographic differences in the population awareness of the link between HPV and HPV-associated cancers have been observed in the US, it is unclear how cancer type and gender contribute to these differences. We examined variations in US adults’awareness of the link between HPV and HPV-related cancers over time according to gender. We used data from the 2014–2020 Health Information National Trends Survey. Exposure was gender (men versus women), and outcomes were self-reported awareness of the causal link between HPV and cancers (cervical, anal, penile and oral cancer). A total of 10,933 participants were included in this study. Awareness of the link between HPV and cervical cancer was high (77.6% in 2014) but decreased by 7.4% between 2014 and 2020. In contrast, awareness of the link between HPV and anal, oral, and penile cancers was low (around 30% for each cancer type) and remained stable between 2014 and 2020. From 2014 to 2020, gender difference gradually widened for cervical cancer (with higher awareness among women versus men) while it gradually faded for anal cancer (with higher awareness among men versus women) . For oral and penile cancers, the gender difference that was observed in 2014 (with higher awareness among men versus women) gradually narrowed and then reversed (with higher awareness among women versus men) . These findings emphasize the importance of implementing novel and targeted interventions to enhance public knowledge of the HPV-cancer link, particularly for HPV-associated non-cervical cancers. Public health initiatives should focus on developing gender- and cancer type-specific educational campaigns aimed at mitigating misinformation around HPV and HPV-related cancers. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 23 June 2025 Revised 9 December 2025 Accepted 21 December 2025 KEYWORDS Human papillomavirus (HPV); vaccination; HPVassociated cancers; knowledge; awareness; health education; HINTS Introduction Despite the availability of a preventive vaccine, human papillomavirus (HPV) remains the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the US.1,2 According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 42 million Americans (12.3% of the US population) were infected with HPV by mid-2024, and up to 13 million contract a new HPV infecti

FAQs

What question does the study address about HPV and cancer awareness?

It examines how cancer type and gender contribute to differences in US adults’ awareness of the causal link between HPV and HPV-associated cancers.

Which data source and period were used to analyze awareness trends?

The study used data from the 2014–2020 Health Information National Trends Survey.

How did awareness differ across cancer types and over time from 2014 to 2020?

Awareness of the HPV–cervical cancer link was high in 2014 but decreased by 2020. Awareness for anal, oral, and penile cancers was much lower (around 30% each) and stayed relatively stable.

Sep 22, 2026

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