title: Gender differences among low income women in their intent to vaccinate their sons and daughters against human papillomavirus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The HPV vaccine was approved for use in males in 2009. The purpose of our study was to examine current intentions to vaccinate sons and daughters among low income women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was administered to 322 mothers with a son or daughter 9-26 years of age to examine gender differences in intent to vaccinate their children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five public reproductive health clinics in southeast Texas, between August, 2010 and May, 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 322 women with ≥1 child 9-26 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knowledge of HPV vaccine, intention to have son or daughter receive the HPV vaccine, and reasons for not vaccinating son or daughter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with only a daughter were more willing than those with a son to vaccinate their child (71% vs 44%, P < 0.001). A similar scenario was observed for mothers of both daughters and sons (67% vs 39%, P < 0.001). Mothers of sons as compared to daughters were less likely to consider their child at risk of HPV (27% vs 12%, P = 0.028) while those with daughters were more concerned about side effects (54% vs 33%, P = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educational interventions are needed to address the importance to mothers of vaccinating both their sons and daughters against HPV.
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. abberens@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Abbey B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Berenson
authors.forename: Mahbubur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines