Adolescents' beliefs about their parents' human papillomavirus vaccination decisions.
A significant minority of parents are concerned that human papillomavirus vaccination will affect sexual behaviour. We explored this issue with 162 adolescent girls. Most (between 90 and 92%) did not perceive a connection between parental consent to vaccination and parental authorisation for sexual activity, but a small percentage believed that vaccination consent implied that they were old enough to have sex (8%), or that it was okay for them to be sexually active (10%). The findings are broadly reassuring, but highlight the need for vaccination information materials to clarify why the vaccine is administered before sexual debut.
Forster
A S
AS
Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, UK.
Marlow
L A V
LA
Waller
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D033282:Parental Consent / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines