Predictors of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Daughters of Low-Income Latina Mothers: The Role of Acculturation

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a safe and effective primary prevention strategy for cervical cancer. Little is known about correlates of HPV vaccination among Hispanic adolescents living in the United States. The purpose of this study was to (1) examine relationships between both U.S./American and Latina acculturation and variables typically associated with HPV vaccine uptake (e.g., physician recommendation); and (2) identify predictors of HPV vaccine uptake among daughters of Latina mothers. Latina mothers (N = 200) recruited from a Federally Qualified Health Center serving low-income families in Florida completed a semistructured interview that assessed awareness of and knowledge about HPV and HPV-vaccines, vaccination beliefs, whether their daughter's physician had recommended the HPV vaccine, health history, U.S./American and Latina acculturation, mother and daughter demographics, and daughter's HPV vaccination status. Only 18% of daughters had received at least one dose of the vaccine. Higher levels of U.S./American acculturation were associated with greater odds of vaccine uptake and other common predictors of HPV vaccination (e.g., physician recommendation, vaccine awareness). A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified three independent predictors of vaccine uptake: physician recommendation, daughter's age, and low worry about how to pay for the vaccine. Despite generally favorable views of HPV vaccination, observed rates of vaccine uptake in this sample were substantially lower than national estimates. Latina mothers who are more integrated into U.S. society may be more likely to vaccinate their daughters against HPV. Findings provide promising directions for future HPV vaccination interventions with Hispanic adolescents.