title: Racial and Ethnic Group Knowledge, Perceptions and Behaviors about Human Papillomavirus, Human Papillomavirus Vaccination, and Cervical Cancer among Adolescent Females.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines provide an opportunity to greatly reduce the burden of cervical cancer. Although there has been improvement in uptake, there are notable ethnic/racial disparities. This qualitative study was conducted to better understand factors related to vaccine uptake among female adolescents from 3 racial/ethnic groups: African American (AA), Hispanic, and Caucasian. Findings can inform the development of optimal messages and strategies for clinical and population-based interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This mixed-methods descriptive study included completion of a brief structured survey and focus group discussion. Six focus groups were conducted with female adolescents, 2 each in the AA, Hispanic, and Caucasian groups. Brief structured survey questions and the focus group protocol addressed knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors related to HPV, HPV vaccination, and cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 60 female adolescents (ages 13-19, mean age = 16.6 years) recruited from high schools, public health clinics, and churches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes across questions were remarkably similar among AA, Hispanic, and Caucasian participants. Each group had high awareness of the terms HPV, HPV vaccination, and cervical cancer, but with little in-depth knowledge about these topics. There was a high acceptance of HPV vaccination. Misperceptions about optimal cervical cancer prevention strategies such as simply knowing one's partner and good hygiene were most common among Hispanic adolescents. Awareness about Pap testing was most common among Caucasian adolescents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Predominantly uniform perceptions of HPV vaccines across racial/ethnic groups suggest a "one size fits all" approach will likely have greater reach with cervical cancer prevention messaging than culturally tailored interventions.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, College of Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Sharon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, College of Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina; Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Kathleen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Cartmell
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, College of Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina. Electronic address: lopezcm@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Cristina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Public Health Sciences, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Marvella E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Program and Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Elena I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, College of Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina; Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Public Health Sciences, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Jane G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Zapka
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Public Health Sciences, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Alberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: Adolescent; Cervical cancer; HPV vaccines; Healthcare disparities; Prevention; Vaccination