What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to evaluate knowledge, risk perception, and willingness to comply with HPV vaccination among young Italians.

January 23, 2026Open Access

HPV and HIV Among Youth: Exploring the Role of Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Attitude to Vaccination in Prevention Strategies

Puntos clave

This study aims to evaluate knowledge, risk perception, and willingness to comply with HPV vaccination among young Italians.
Cross-sectional study design
Questionnaire administered to 2576 young people aged 16 to 30
Collected data on socio-demographics, behavior, and knowledge of STIs and HPV
Knowledge classified into four categories and risk perception assessed on a scale of 1 to 10.
Only 12.5% of participants had high knowledge of STIs; 41.3% had low knowledge of HPV.
Risk perception for contracting HIV and HPV averaged 2.9 out of 10, indicating low awareness.
83.0% of participants saw vaccination as useful, yet many unvaccinated individuals expressed concerns about vaccines.
Factors associated with higher STI occurrence included older age, transgender identity, and risky sexual behaviors.

Resumen

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a significant public health problem due to their impact. Knowledge about them, perceptions of the risk of contracting them, and adherence to prevention strategies such as HPV vaccination are, at various levels, key factors in preventing the spread of STIs. The study therefore aimed to investigate and evaluate, in a group of young Italians, the level of knowledge, perception of risk and propensity to adhere to preventive strategies, including vaccination against papillomavirus. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by administering a questionnaire to young people aged between 16 and 30, residing in four macro-geographical areas, collecting socio-demographic, behavioral and knowledge data. Levels of knowledge about STIs and HPV were classified into four categories (low, medium without awareness, medium with awareness, high). Risk perception was assessed on a scale of 1 to 10. Results: A total of 2576 questionnaires were collected, revealing that general knowledge about STIs is limited: only 12.5% of participants demonstrated a high level of knowledge, while 27.1% demonstrated a low level; with regard to HPV, 41.3% of the sample demonstrated a low level of knowledge. The perception of the risk of contracting HIV and HPV was low in most subjects (average score of approximately 2.9 out of 10), with no significant differences related to levels of knowledge about HPV. Potential adherence to HPV vaccination was high (83.0% considered vaccination useful), but among unvaccinated subjects, almost half expressed concerns about vaccination, related to poor knowledge and mistrust of vaccines in general. Factors associated with a higher frequency of self-reported STIs included older age, transgender identity, non-heterosexual orientation, and risky sexual behavior. Conclusions: The results emerging from the study highlight the urgent need to strengthen educational and preventive interventions aimed at young people. Raising awareness of the risk of contracting STIs and the importance of vaccination are key targets for health promotion interventions.

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