Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and facilitators for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among Latina mothers of HPV vaccine-eligible children in low-income urban areas, as well as useful strategies to improve HPV vaccination.Methods: The study included 132 Latina mothers of HPV vaccine-eligible children, interviewed in 14 focus groups. Using semi-structured discussions, mothers were asked about their knowledge about HPV infection and vaccine, views toward HPV vaccination, barriers for HPV vaccine initiation as well as completion, and opinions on strategies to improve HPV vaccination.Results: Only 55% of mothers reported having ever heard of the HPV vaccine, 27% of mothers indicated initiating the HPV vaccine, and 14% indicated completing the multi-dose series. Mothers generally lacked knowledge about HPV infection and vaccination, with varying degrees by Latino descent. Health care provider (HCP) recommendation was the strongest barrier/facilitator for HPV vaccination. Useful strategies to improve HPV vaccine initiation and completion that the mothers suggested included strong recommendation from HCPs and addressing side effects and safety concerns. Other useful strategies included community and school-based approaches and the use of text messaging and smartphone technology to educate mothers and send vaccine reminders.Conclusion: The findings provide insight for the development of interventions targeting low-income Latina mothers and the need to improve HCP communication on HPV vaccination.
Highlights
There are pervasive disparities in national morbidity and mortality rates of human papillomavirus (HPV)related cancers for Latino individuals.[1]
A few mothers were aware of the consequences of the HPV infection, mainly related to cervical cancer
Caribbean Latina (CL) mothers appeared more knowledgeable about HPV infection than South and Central American (SCA) mothers
Summary
There are pervasive disparities in national morbidity and mortality rates of human papillomavirus (HPV)related cancers for Latino individuals.[1] In New Jersey, cervical cancer morbidity is significantly higher in the Greater Newark area as well as among Latina women.[2] In 2015, the HPV vaccine uptake rates among female and male adolescents nationally were 63% and 50% for initiation, and 42% and 28% for completion of the three-dose series.[3] These rates are dramatically lower than Healthy People 2020’s goal of achieving 80% completion rate.[4] Further, even though national data show slightly higher HPV vaccination among Latino and low-income groups,[3,5,6,7] local-level data and several community-based studies have demonstrated a significant and continuing trend of lower HPV vaccination among Latino adolescents,[8,9,10,11,12,13,14] as well as in low-income and urban areas.[11,15,16,17] Research in the Greater Newark a Rula Btoush et al 2019; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. There are pervasive disparities in national morbidity and mortality rates of human papillomavirus (HPV)related cancers for Latino individuals.[1] In New Jersey, cervical cancer morbidity is significantly higher in the Greater Newark area as well as among Latina women.[2] In 2015, the HPV vaccine uptake rates among female and male adolescents nationally were 63% and 50% for initiation, and 42% and 28% for completion of the three-dose series.[3] These rates are dramatically lower than Healthy People 2020’s goal of achieving 80% completion rate.[4] Further, even though national data show slightly higher HPV vaccination among Latino and low-income groups,[3,5,6,7] local-level data and several community-based studies have demonstrated a significant and continuing trend of lower HPV vaccination among Latino adolescents,[8,9,10,11,12,13,14] as well as in low-income and urban areas.[11,15,16,17] Research in the Greater Newark a Rula Btoush et al 2019; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
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