Abstract C091: Racial/ethnic disparities in awareness and attitudes towards the HPV vaccine among women living in the United States and Puerto Rico

Abstract

Abstract Introduction In the United States (US), Human papilomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and an infectious agent related to cancer. The HPV vaccine is the most effective preventive method against cervical cancer. Studies have shown racial/ethnic disparities in knowledge and attitudes towards HPV and its vaccine. Few national studies have explored these disparities including Puerto Rican women, a group which higher rates of cervical cancer have been documented. In this study, we examined differences in awareness and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine among a sample of women 18 years of age and older from Puerto Rico (PR) and the US. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS); conducted nationwide in 2007 (n = 4,145 HINTS U.S.) and in PR in 2009 (n = 417; PR). Multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed the association between racial/ethnic group (non-Hispanic White, non- Hispanic Black, Hispanics and PR women and HPV vaccine awareness and attitudes, whilst adjusting for age, education, marital status and health insurance. All analyses were performed using the statistical software SPSS version 23.0. Results: A total of 4,562 women participated in this survey: 72.4% non-Hispanic White, 10.2% non-Hispanic Black, 9.1% Puerto Rican women and 8.3 Hispanics. Hispanics and Puerto Rican women had a higher attitude towards the HPV vaccine (55.9% and 74.8%), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression models shown that, Hispanics women were 68% less likely to have heard that the vaccine prevents cervical cancer, compared to non-Hispanic White women (OR=0.32; 95% IC = 0.25 - 0.42, p<0.001). PR women are 2.4 times more likely of having a positive attitude towards the HPV vaccine compared to non- Hispanic White women in the US (OR=2.41; 95%IC=1.89 - 3.06, p<0.001). Non- Hispanic Black women were 25% less likely to have a positive attitude toward the vaccine when compared to non- Hispanic White women (OR=0.75; 95% IC = 0.61 - 0.93, p<0.001). Conclusion: The women living in PR showed a greater disposition toward the HPV vaccine. Non-Hispanic Black women in the US were least likely to be aware and have positive attitude towards the HPV vaccine. The disparities observed in the different races/ethnicities analyzed in this study, suggest racial and ethnic differences, which deserve further investigation so that health providers can better target educational across different racial/ethnic groups aiming to increase awareness and knowledge about HPV and its vaccination. Citation Format: Nelybeth Santiago Yance, Rafael E Rios McConnell, Mildred Vera Rios, Vivian Colón López. Racial/ethnic disparities in awareness and attitudes towards the HPV vaccine among women living in the United States and Puerto Rico [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C091.