title: Trends in HPV vaccine initiation among adolescent females in North Carolina, 2008-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To better target future immunization efforts, we assessed trends and disparities in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine initiation among female adolescents in North Carolina over 3 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from a stratified random sample of 1,427 parents who, between 2008 and 2010, completed two linked telephone surveys: the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program surveys. Weighted analyses examined HPV vaccine initiation for girls ages 11 to 17 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HPV vaccine initiation increased modestly over time (2008, 34%; 2009, 41%; 2010, 44%). This upward trend was present within 11 subpopulations of girls, including those who lived in rural areas, were of minority (non-black/non-white) race, or had not recently received a preventive check-up. Looking at differences between groups, HPV vaccine initiation was less common among girls who attended private versus public school, were younger, or lacked a recent check-up. However, the latter difference narrowed over time. The low level of initiation among girls without recent check-ups increased substantially (from 11% to 41%), whereas initiation among girls with recent visits improved little (from 39% to 44%, P(interaction) = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although HPV vaccine initiation improved among several groups typically at higher risk for cervical cancer, the lack of progress among girls with recent check-ups suggests that missed opportunities for administration have hampered broader improvements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Achieving widespread coverage of HPV vaccine will require redoubled efforts to vaccinate adolescents during routine care.
authors.affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Melissa B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gilkey
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Noel T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Brewer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines