“I don’t Think He Needs the HPV Vaccine Cause Boys Can’t Have Cervical Cancer”: a Qualitative Study of Latina Mothers’ (Mis) Understandings About Human Papillomavirus Transmission, Associated Cancers, and the Vaccine

Acceptance of the HPV Vaccine in a Multiethnic Sample of Latinx Mothers

“…More recent studies with multiethnic populations (Joseph et al, 2012; Lee et al, 2018; Rendle & Leskinen, 2017) and also Latinx (Perkins et al, 2013; Roncancio et al, 2019) have documented that parents of adolescent males report not vaccinating their sons because of the lack of perceived direct health benefit of the vaccine for males. Our findings, similar to other research, emphasize the need for renewed efforts to increase parents’ awareness and knowledge of HPV-associated cancers that affect both males and females and the direct cancer prevention benefits of the HPV vaccine for males (Holman et al, 2014; Lindsay, Delgado, et al, 2020; Perkins et al, 2013; Roncancio et al, 2019; Suárez et al, 2019). These efforts are likely to contribute to increasing HPV vaccination rates for Latinx adolescent males.…”

“…Our findings showed that the majority of mothers did not perceive HPV infection as a major risk to their sons’ health and, therefore, did not perceive direct health benefits of the HPV vaccine for their sons as they did for their daughters (i.e., prevention of cervical cancer). These findings are supported by prior research, suggesting that mothers are more likely to perceive disease risk, direct benefit of the vaccine, and consequently more willing to vaccinate their daughters than their sons (Katz et al, 2016; Lindsay, Delgado, et al, 2020; Niccolai et al, 2016; Roncancio et al, 2019). A systematic review by Holman et al (2014), including 55 studies, found that parents’ preference to vaccinate females over males was reported by the majority of studies.…”

“…Eligible mothers (a) had at least one child aged 11 to 19 years, (b) self-identified as Latinx, (c) lived in Massachusetts, and (d) if foreign-born, had lived in the United States for at least 12 months. We used convenience sampling techniques to identify Latinx mothers, which included (a) posting flyers in local Latinx businesses and community-based social and health services agencies, and (b) making announcements and using visibility strategies at predominantly Spanish-speaking churches (Lindsay, Delgado, et al, 2020; Lindsay, Pineda, et al, 2020). Participants also were recruited using a snowball sampling method that involved two approaches: (a) leveraging the personal and community networks of the Latinx research staff to recruit potential participants, and (b) asking early enrollees to recommend their eligible Latinx friends (Faugier & Sargeant, 1997; Lindsay, Delgado, et al, 2020; Lindsay, Pineda, et al, 2020).…”

9vHPV vaccine: Prevention of oropharyngeal cancer

“…In a qualitative interview study of mothers with children aged 11 to 19, the investigators reported that most mothers were aware that HPV vaccination could prevent cervical cancer in women, but most mothers did not know that HPV causes cancer of the mouth and that vaccination could prevent oropharyngeal cancer in boys and girls. 11 Because of this lack of knowledge, 9vHPV vaccine: Indications and immunization schedule…”

“…The research report is aptly titled, "I don't think he needs the HPV vaccine cause boys can't have cervical cancer." 11 Clinicians are highly influential in guiding parents to accept HPV vaccination of their children. Offering consistent messaging to parents that HPV vaccination prevents cancer in both women and men, and reducing the out-of-pocket cost of vaccination surely will result in an increase in the vaccination rate of boys and girls.…”