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Barriers and Facilitators of HPV Vaccination in the VFC Program

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Abstract

This study determined facilitators and barriers to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination perceived by providers of healthcare in the federally funded Pennsylvania Vaccines for Children (PA VFC) program. The cross-sectional study gathered descriptive data through a survey research design. Providers of healthcare were recruited through an email containing a link to an 18-question online survey. The survey was divided into four main sections which assessed the perceived facilitators and barriers to HPV vaccination of PA VFC program-eligibles. Survey respondents represented 65 of 66 Pennsylvania counties covered by the PA VFC Program. The study recruited 772 PA VFC participating healthcare facilities for a response rate of 52%. Ninety eight percent of the responding facilities reported that they offered the HPV vaccine. The most common barriers to vaccine administration were the parental belief that HPV vaccination is associated with sexual activity and parent/patient refusal of the HPV vaccination which together accounted for (44%) of responses. The majority of respondents (75.6%) indicated counseling parents and adolescents on the benefits of HPV vaccination was a very important factor in HPV vaccination uptake. Healthcare provider facility based training (32%) and web-based training for healthcare providers (22%) were the most recommended avenues for HPV training. The most common barrier to HPV vaccination was identified as the parental misconception that HPV vaccination is associated with sexual activity. Providers believed that the best way to increase HPV vaccination is through counseling parents and adolescents on the benefits of HPV vaccination and to correct misconceptions and change attitudes. Providers are desirous of receiving HPV web-based or workplace training.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the PA DOH, for the review and approval of the survey instrument and the PA DOH’s, Division of Immunizations and the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control for participation and feedback through the review and pretesting of the survey instrument. The authors have no financial disclosures or conflicts of interest to report, and no funding was provided for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PA Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Room 933, Health and Welfare Building, 625 Forster Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17120-0701, USA

    Wayne S. Fleming & Sameh W. Boktor

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Wayne S. Fleming, Kristin K. Sznajder & Sameh W. Boktor

  3. Behavioral Science, Lancaster General Hospital, Penn Medicine, 555 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA, 17604-3555, USA

    Margaret Nepps

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  1. Wayne S. Fleming
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  2. Kristin K. Sznajder
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  3. Margaret Nepps
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  4. Sameh W. Boktor
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Correspondence to Wayne S. Fleming.

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The authors have no financial disclosures or conflicts of interest to report, and no funding was provided for this study.

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Fleming, W.S., Sznajder, K.K., Nepps, M. et al. Barriers and Facilitators of HPV Vaccination in the VFC Program. J Community Health 43, 448–454 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0457-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0457-x

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