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.
Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, UK.
A S
AS
Forster
L A V
LA
Marlow
J
J
Waller
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