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A National Study of HPV Vaccination of Adolescent Girls: Rates, Predictors, and Reasons for Non-Vaccination

Maternal and Child Health Journal volume 17, pages 879–885 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Despite recommendations in the U.S. for routine HPV vaccination of adolescent girls since 2006, rates of vaccination continue to be low. This study reports vaccination uptake, factors associated with vaccine uptake and reasons for non-vaccination within a national sample of adolescent females during 2010. Using a computer administered survey of a national sample of 501 mothers of daughters 14–17 years old we assessed maternal reports of HPV vaccination as well as socio-demographical factors, maternal HPV exposures and reasons chosen for non-vaccination. Reported HPV vaccination rates were slightly over 50 % (51.1 %), with 38.3 % reporting completion of all 3 doses. Socioeconomic and demographic factors were not associated with vaccination initiation; however, Blacks and Hispanics were less likely to complete vaccination. The most common reasons for non-vaccination were concerns about vaccine safety, danger to daughter, and provider non-recommendation. Relatively poor HPV vaccine initiation and only modest 3-dose completion continues to be a major public health concern that requires continued efforts to address identified predictors and reasons for non-vaccination.

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Acknowledgments

Funding support for this research was provided by NIH R56 A1079090-01A1.

Conflict of interest

Kester, Laura: Has no financial disclosures. Zimet, Gregory: Investigator on grants funded through Merck’s Investigator Initiated Studies Program. In the past year served as a consultant to Sanofi Pasteur regarding attitudes about herpes vaccination. Shew, Marcia: Investigator for Merck and Co. related HPV vaccine trials. Kahn, Jessica: Co-PI of two clinical trials of HPV vaccine in HIV-infected individuals; vaccine and immunogenicity testing were provided by Merck. Fortenberry, J Dennis: Receives compensation from American Social Health Association for continuing lectures related to HPV vaccines.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, 410 W. 10th Street, Suite 1001, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Laura M. Kester, Gregory D. Zimet, J. Dennis Fortenberry & Marcia L. Shew

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Jessica A. Kahn

Authors
  1. Laura M. Kester
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  2. Gregory D. Zimet
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  3. J. Dennis Fortenberry
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  4. Jessica A. Kahn
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  5. Marcia L. Shew
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Correspondence to Laura M. Kester.

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Kester, L.M., Zimet, G.D., Fortenberry, J.D. et al. A National Study of HPV Vaccination of Adolescent Girls: Rates, Predictors, and Reasons for Non-Vaccination. Matern Child Health J 17, 879–885 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1066-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1066-z

Keywords

  • HPV
  • Vaccination rates
  • Adolescent health behaviors
  • Sexually transmitted infections