Political Ideology and HPV Vaccine Awareness: Sex Differences and Nursing Implications Using the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS)

Background: This study aims to investigate the relationship between political ideology and the awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine and the interaction with sex and race/ethnicity. Methods: This cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of Health Information National Trends Survey data, based on responses from 3113 American households. The analysis used listwise deletion. Data included awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine, political ideology, and demographic characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression models with interaction terms were used to examine the associations between political ideology, sex, race/ethnicity, and HPV awareness outcomes. Results: Moderate and conservative populations were less likely to be aware of HPV and the HPV vaccine compared to liberal population. However, these differences were only observed among males. Black, Hispanic, Asian, and other populations were less aware of HPV and the HPV vaccine than the White populations. Younger age, higher educational level, and higher income were associated with awareness. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the need for tailored outreach strategies for conservative males and racial/ethnic minority populations by tailoring approaches to increase awareness of the dangers of HPV and the benefits of vaccination. Nurses should play a critical role in delivering culturally appropriate education and strong vaccine recommendations to improve awareness and uptake by targeting conservative males and underserved racial and ethnic minority groups who consistently demonstrate lower levels of HPV-related knowledge.