Factors contributing to non-initiation and incompletion of the HPV vaccine series and parental acceptability of means to improve vaccination rates

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) with approximately 79 million Americans currently infected and 14 million people becoming infected every year (CDC, 2013). About 33,300 HPV related cancers are diagnosed every year and affect more women than men (CDC, 2012). Two prophylactic HPV vaccines are currently FDA approved and recommended by the ACIP: Gardasil, a quadrivalent prophylactic vaccine for types 6, 11, 16, and 18, and Cervarix, a bivalent HPV vaccine for types 16 and 18 (ACIP, 2010). Both vaccines are recommended for girl's aged 11 or 12 years and catch-up vaccination is advised for girls between the ages of 13 and 26 (ACIP, 2010; Markowitz et al., 2007). Understanding parents' opinions about HPV vaccination is crucial to obtaining high vaccination rates and a reduced number of people affected by cervical cancer. Factors considered include physician recommendation, daughter’s age, knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine, peer and media influence, mistrust in pharmaceutical companies, religion, race, cost, and personal experience with STIs, abnormal pap smears, or cervical cancer. Many studies have looked at factors that influence parents' acceptability and decision to vaccinate their daughters, however little is known about their opinions on methods to improve HPV vaccination and completion. [TRUNCATED]