Knowledge and concerns related to the human papillomavirus vaccine among underserved Latina women.
OBJECTIVE
This study's purpose was to assess knowledge and concerns related to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among underserved Latina women and Latina mothers of female adolescents and to explore differences between those in the vaccinated and those in the unvaccinated groups.


METHODS
We conducted cross-sectional written surveys of 206 Latina women at an urban health center in central New Jersey. Participants included vaccine-eligible women and mothers of vaccine-eligible adolescents. We calculated descriptive statistics, Fisher exact tests, and corresponding risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs.


RESULTS
Of those who had heard of HPV (71%), 80% knew that HPV is a sexually transmitted infection. Fewer understood the causative link between HPV and cervical cancer (58%) and genital warts (45%). Vaccine safety was the most frequently cited concern. Unvaccinated women and mothers of unvaccinated daughters were more worried that the vaccine could promote risky sexual behavior (RR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2-2.1) and more likely to believe that they or their daughters were not at risk for HPV infection (RR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1-1.4).


CONCLUSIONS
To maximize HPV vaccination rates among underserved Latinas, concerns about vaccine safety, potential effects on sexual behavior, and self-perceptions of risk for HPV infection must be addressed.
Wu
Justine P
JP
Department of Family Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Public Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. drwuju1@gmail.com
Porch
Emily
E
McWeeney
Michelle
M
Ohman-Strickland
Pamela
P
Levine
Jeffrey P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D009515:New Jersey; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines