For 2008, adults who acknowledged having heard of HPV (i.e., with an affirmative response in HPVHEAR) were asked the following questions designed to test general knowledge of the virus, with the assurance "Your best guess is fine":

• Believes HPV causes cervical cancer (HPVCANCER)

• Believes HPV spread through sexual contact (HPVSEX)

• Believes HPV goes away without treatment (HPVGOES)

Finally, female adults were asked, "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had HPV?" (HPVHADEV).

In 2006, a vaccine became available that protects against the most common types of HPV that cause cervical cancer and genital warts. According to the CDC website on HPV, "The HPV vaccine is routinely recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls. The vaccine series can be started at 9 years of age. Catch-up vaccination is recommended for 13 through 26 year-old females who have not yet received the vaccine series." The vaccine is administered in 3 intra-muscular injections given over 6 months.

A series of questions designed to capture information, attitudes, and knowledge about the HPV vaccine were included in the 2008 NHIS for adults and female children, in the 2009 NHIS for adults only, and in the 2010 NHIS for adults and children as follows:

• Ever heard about HPV vaccine (HPVACHEAR)

• Ever received HPV vaccine (HPVACHAD)

• Number of HPV shots received (HPVACNO)

• Would get HPV shot if recommended (HPVACGETREC)

• Interested in HPV vaccine (HPVACINT)

• Main reason would not receive HPV vaccine (HPVACNOWHY)

• Would get HPV vaccine if cost 350 to 500 dollars (HPVACGET500)

• Would SC get HPV vaccine if it were free/at a lower cost (HPVACGETFRE)