Beyond words: Parental perceptions on human papilloma virus vaccination recommendations and its impact on uptake

Factors associated with parental human papillomavirus vaccination intentions among adolescents from socioeconomically advantaged versus deprived households: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey

Background

In the USA, HPV vaccine coverage is substantially lower among adolescents from high-income households compared to their low-income counterparts. We examined and compared the factors associated with parental HPV vaccination intentions between socioeconomically divergent groups.

Methods

Data from unvaccinated and not fully HPV-vaccinated adolescents from the 2017-2021 National Immunization Survey (NIS)-Teen were analyzed. Socioeconomically advantaged vs. deprived groups were identified based on dichotomized income (material capital) and education (social capital). Parental intent to initiate and complete the HPV vaccine series was compared using bivariable analysis and the factors associated with lacking intent were identified.

Findings

The 2017-2021 NIS-Teen included a total of 212,643 participants; the final analytical sample consisted of 105,958 adolescents (an estimated 10.3 million adolescents) who were unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. In the advantaged group, 64.7% of parents of unvaccinated adolescents (equating to 2.4 million US adolescents) had no intention to initiate the HPV vaccine compared to 40.9% of parents in the deprived group (equating to 0.2 million adolescents) (P < 0.0001; S > 13.29). The most frequent reason for lacking intent in the advantaged group was 'safety concerns' (25.5%). In the deprived group, 'lack of knowledge', 'not recommended', and 'not needed' were common reasons (nearly 15% each). Lack of intent to complete the HPV vaccine series was higher in the advantaged group (43.9%; 1.1 million adolescents) compared to the deprived group (25.2%; 0.08 million adolescents) (P < 0.0001; S > 13.29). More than half in the advantaged group (58.4%) and over a third (37.1%) in the deprived group cited 'already up to date' as the main reason for not completing the HPV vaccine series.

Interpretation

Lack of intent to initiate and complete the HPV vaccination series, particularly among socioeconomically advantaged parents is a significant barrier to achieving the national goal in the USA.

Funding

The US National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center Seed funding, and the US National Cancer Institutes.

Parental perceptions of the HPV vaccine for prevention of anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers

Background and Objectives

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is implicated in the development of both anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Although HPV vaccination prevents the majority of anogenital and head and neck cancers (HNC), vaccination rates remain low, especially among males. Known barriers to vaccination are knowledge gaps and vaccine acceptability. The objective of this study is to explore parental knowledge, perceptions, and decision-making processes about HPV and HPV vaccination for both anogenital and HNC.

Methods

This qualitative study recruited parents of children and adolescents aged 8-18 to participate in semi-structured telephone interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analyses, informed by an inductive approach.

Results

A total of 31 parents participated in the study. Six themes emerged: 1) knowledge about HPV vaccines, 2) perceptions and attitudes toward cancers, 3) role of child's sex in HPV vaccination, 4) decision-making processes around HPV vaccination, 5) communication with health care providers about HPV vaccines, and 6) influence of social networks. There were significant knowledge gaps about the vaccine's indications and effects, especially for males and HNC prevention. Parents had concerns related to risks of the HPV vaccine. They cited pediatricians as important sources of information about vaccination and critical to their decision-making.

Conclusions

This study identified many parental knowledge gaps related to HPV vaccination, with information about males, HNC prevention, and risks particularly lacking. As parents identified pediatricians as the most important sources of information regarding HPV vaccination, this should empower pediatricians to educate families about this important preventive health measure, with a focus on addressing concerns about vaccine risks.

An Update on Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in the United States

Cervical cancer remains a significant disease in the United States. Although the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been approved for those aged 9-26 years and for some individuals up to age 45 years, there are many circumstances in which health care professionals may not know whether the vaccine should be recommended, such as for patients with previous infection, health care workers, and those older than age 26 years. This article highlights the evidence that the HPV vaccine is a safe and highly effective way to prevent cervical cancer, with the strongest predictor of vaccine uptake being practitioner recommendation.