Factors Associated with Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intention Among Young Men in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection represents a critical public health issue that affects both sexes. We aimed to investigate HPV vaccination intention and its associated factors in young men by conducting a web-based cross-sectional survey among men aged 18-26 years in Japan. The survey assessed sociodemographic characteristics, HPV knowledge and awareness, history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, vaccination readiness, digital health literacy, and HPV vaccination intention. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was conducted with HPV vaccination intention as the dependent variable to identify associated factors. Out of 824 respondents, 814 were included in the analysis after excluding those who had already received the HPV vaccine. Overall, 122 (15.0%) participants expressed their intention to receive the HPV vaccine. Ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that HPV awareness (adjusted odds ratio AOR: 1.54, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.11-2.15), HPV knowledge (AOR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.27), vaccination readiness (AOR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.78-2.96), history of COVID-19 vaccination (AOR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.31-2.74), personal income (AOR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.30-3.14), and employment status (AOR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43-0.88) were significantly associated with HPV vaccination intention. In conclusion, HPV vaccination intention among young men was positively associated with HPV knowledge and awareness, attitudes toward vaccination, and personal income; conversely, regular employment was associated with reduced HPV vaccination intention. These findings suggest that increasing HPV vaccination uptake may require broadening HPV knowledge, improving attitudes toward vaccination, and reducing access barriers.