Latino parents' knowledge & receipt of the HPV vaccine for child in a state with low uptake
Background: Latinos suffer a disproportionate burden of HPV-preventable cancers, yet uptake and completion of the HPV vaccine among Latinos is far below recommendations. Nationally, only 62.9% of Hispanic adolescents have received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, and only 35.5% have completed all three doses. Reasons for low HPV vaccine uptake among Latinos in Utah are unknown.
Methods: We surveyed Latino parents of HPV vaccine age-eligible adolescents (N=118) to explore socio-demographic factors related to HPV vaccine knowledge, interest, and uptake. A purposive sample of Latino parents and guardians was recruited by two community organizations at local community events and health booths. Eligible participants had at least one child ages 11-17 years. The printed 38-item survey of close-ended questions included intrapersonal and interpersonal factors related to the HPV vaccination. Univariable analyses were performed to identify sociodemographic characteristics associated with knowledge and receipt of the HPV vaccine for daughter(s) and/or son(s). Comparisons of categorical variables were made using chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate.
Results: Participants with a high school education or higher were more likely to know about the HPV vaccine than participants with less than high school education (86.7% vs 69.1%, p=0.03). Those born in Mexico were less likely to know about the HPV vaccine compared to those born in other places (73.1% vs 97.1%, p=0.003). Furthermore, participants whose parents were born in Mexico were also less likely to know about the HPV vaccine compared to those parents who were not born in Mexico (74.1% vs 96.7%, p=0.003). Lastly, acculturated parents were more likely to know about the HPV vaccine than those who were not acculturated (89.5% vs 71.4%, p=0.015).
Implications: Hispanics/Latinos bear a greater burden of cervical cancer mortality than do non-Hispanic Whites and would benefit from high HPV immunization coverage. However, Latinos in Utah with lower acculturation and educational attainment are less likely to know about the HPV vaccine than acculturated parents and those with higher levels of education. Efforts to improve access to culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials on the HPV vaccine may improve Latino parents’ self-efficacy for vaccinating their eligible adolescent children.