Abstract
Background: HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines are recent innovations that have provided a new avenue for cervical cancer prevention. The role of HPV vaccines among groups of women who experience excess cervical cancer incidence and mortality requires further study. The purpose of this study was to assess health beliefs associated with HPV vaccine initiation among young African American (AA) women.
Methods: Three hundred sixty-three African American female college students aged 18-26 were recruited from three Historically Black Colleges/Universities in the southeastern United States. Participants were asked to complete a self-administered, anonymous survey to assess knowledge and beliefs related to HPV and the HPV vaccine.
Results: One-quarter (24%) of participants initiated the HPV vaccine. Women who initiated the HPV vaccine had significantly higher HPV knowledge (p=0.01), lower perceived barriers to vaccination (p<0.01), and were younger (p<0.01) compared to women who had not initiated vaccination. Factors significantly associated with HPV vaccine initiation included: HPV knowledge (OR=1.22), perceived severity of HPV health outcomes, (OR=0.48), perceived barriers to vaccination, (OR=0.49), cues to action (OR=1.94), and age (OR=0.68). The model explained 19% of the variance in HPV vaccine initiation.
Conclusions: Study findings can be used to inform the development of targeted health education and promotion HPV vaccine programs for AA college-aged women to prevent continued disparities in cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Addressing health beliefs will be central to efforts to promote widespread vaccine uptake and future reduction in disease.
Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):B35.