School-based vaccination of young US males: impact of health beliefs on intent and first dose acceptance.
Little is known about adolescent males and their parents with respect to intent and first dose uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine outside of primay care settings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential predictors of parental intent to vaccinate (study was conducted in November 2010-December 2012) and of first dose uptake of HPV vaccine among a sample of young adolescent males, 11-15 years of age, who received care at a school-based health center (SBHC). We also examined intent as a potential mediator of the relationships between predictors (health beliefs and perceived spousal agreement) and vaccination. Slightly more than half (n=135 of 249) of parents reported an intention to vaccinate and 28% (n=69) of males received their first dose of the HPV vaccine. Two of three health beliefs were significantly associated with both intention and uptake as was perceived spousal agreement. We found intention to vaccinate was a partial mediatator between the perceived benefits of HPV vaccine and first dose acceptance. We also determined that intent was a strong mediator between both general immunization benefits and perceived spousal agreement and first dose uptake. While vaccine uptake was lower than expected, particularly considering that many barriers to vaccine initiation were eliminated because of the SBHC setting, this rate is higher than in traditional settings. After controlling for intent, only perceived benefits of the HPV vaccine remained a significant predictor of first dose acceptance.
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States. Electronic address: vrickert@iu.edu.
Vaughn I
VI
Rickert
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States.
Beth A
BA
Auslander
Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
Dena S
DS
Cox
Columbia College of Physician and Surgeons and New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, New York, NY, United States.
Susan L
SL
Rosenthal
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; LMU-Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, TN, United States.
Jeffrey A
JA
Rickert
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States.
Richard
R
Rupp
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
Gregory D
GD
Zimet
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D033282:Parental Consent; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012572:School Health Services; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
HPV; Health beliefs; Intention; School-based health center; Vaccination