Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Human Papillomavirus Among Active Duty Service Members at a Large Military Base.

This article focuses on assessing gaps in human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge and attitudes toward HPV vaccination among active duty soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and evaluates the effect of a one-on-one educational intervention on these factors. A six-question assessment was administered before and after education by Epidemiology and Disease Control (EDC) Clinic staff to 139 soldiers, revealing statistically significant improvements in HPV knowledge and increased interest in vaccination among those previously unvaccinated. The study highlights low baseline HPV knowledge and vaccination rates in this military population, identifies challenges in vaccine documentation and completion due to military service factors, and underscores the potential of targeted education to enhance vaccine uptake and military readiness. Limitations include a small, higher-risk sample and lack of demographic data, suggesting the need for broader research to generalize findings across military populations.