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Factors Associated with HPV Vaccine Awareness in a Population-Based Sample of Hispanic Women in Puerto Rico

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities volume 3, pages 281–290 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with HPV awareness among women aged 16 to 64 years, among underserved minority Hispanic women living in Puerto Rico.

Methods

A population-based, cross-sectional sample of 566 women, ages 16 to 64 years, living in the San Juan metropolitan area were surveyed regarding sexual behavior, HPV knowledge, and HPV vaccine uptake. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Overall, 64.8 % of the women in the sample had heard about the HPV vaccine. Among those in the recommended catch-up vaccination age range (16–26 years, n = 86), 4.7 % had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Of those aware of the availability of the HPV vaccine, most had learned about it through the media, whereas, only 39.6 % had learned about it from a physician. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HPV awareness (OR 8.6; 95 % CI 5.0–14.8) and having had an abnormal Pap smear (OR 2.0; 95 % CI 1.2–3.4) were associated with HPV vaccine awareness (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

HPV vaccine awareness among Hispanic women in the San Juan metropolitan area of Puerto Rico continues to be low. Strong recommendations from physicians and participation in HPV vaccine educational efforts are essential if the rate of HPV vaccination is to increase in the targeted population. Compared to the USA, and to their US Hispanic counterparts, a health disparity with regard to HPV vaccine awareness and coverage is evident in Puerto Rico; targeted action to deal with this disparity is urgently needed.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Grant 1 SC2 AI090922-01) and by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (under award number 2U54MD007587) of the National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Informed Consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (Institutional and National) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all the patients who took part in the study.

Conflict of Interests

Romaguera J., Caballero-Varona D., Tortolero-Luna G., Marrero E., Suárez E., Pérez CM, Muñoz C., Ortiz AP, and Palefsky J. all declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the research reported in or publication of this paper.

Animal Studies

No animal studies were carried out by the authors for this article.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    J. Romaguera & G. Tortolero-Luna

  2. School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    D. Caballero-Varona

  3. University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    G. Tortolero-Luna, E. Marrero, C. Muñoz & A. P. Ortiz

  4. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    E. Marrero, E. Suárez, C. M. Pérez, C. Muñoz & A. P. Ortiz

  5. University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    J. Palefsky

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  1. J. Romaguera
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  2. D. Caballero-Varona
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  3. G. Tortolero-Luna
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  9. A. P. Ortiz
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Correspondence to J. Romaguera.

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Romaguera, J., Caballero-Varona, D., Tortolero-Luna, G. et al. Factors Associated with HPV Vaccine Awareness in a Population-Based Sample of Hispanic Women in Puerto Rico. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 3, 281–290 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-015-0144-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-015-0144-5

Keywords

  • Human papillomavirus
  • HPV vaccine
  • Health awareness
  • Health disparities
  • Hispanics
  • Puerto Ricans