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HPV Vaccination and Sexual Behavior in a Community College Sample

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Abstract

Many US parents are concerned that vaccinating daughters against human papillomavirus (HPV) will communicate implicit approval for sexual activity and be associated with early or risky sexual behavior (Scarinci et al. in J Womens Health 16(8):1224–1233, 2007; Schuler et al. in Sex Transm Infect 87:349–353, 2011) [7, 8]. The aims of this study were to understand (a) whether the HPV vaccine was associated with risky sexual behavior among a diverse sample of female adolescents and young adults, and (b) to better understand the chronology of HPV vaccination and sexual behavior. An anonymous web-based survey was used to collect data from 114 female community college students. T test and Chi square analyses were used to compare vaccinated and unvaccinated groups on age at first intercourse and proportion who had ever had sexual intercourse. Linear multiple regression was used to predict frequency of condom use and number of sexual partners in the past year, using vaccination status and demographic factors as predictors. About 38 % reported receiving at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Many of those vaccinated (45 %) received the vaccine after having initiated sexual activity. The proportion of women who were sexually experienced did not differ by HPV vaccine status, nor did age at first intercourse, number of partners in the past year, or frequency of condom use. Current findings suggest that HPV vaccination is not associated with riskier sexual activity for the young women in this sample. Adolescents and their parents may benefit from education about the need to receive the HPV vaccine before onset of sexual activity.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the UCLA Cancer Education and Career Development Program, NCI Grant R25 CA 087949-13 and a grant from the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation. The authors also wish to thank the staff and students of the Los Angeles Community College District, who made this research possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, A2-125 CHS, Box 956900, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Erica Marchand, Beth A. Glenn & Roshan Bastani

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  1. Erica Marchand
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  2. Beth A. Glenn
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  3. Roshan Bastani
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Correspondence to Erica Marchand.

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Marchand, E., Glenn, B.A. & Bastani, R. HPV Vaccination and Sexual Behavior in a Community College Sample. J Community Health 38, 1010–1014 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-013-9710-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-013-9710-0

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