What college women know, think, and do about human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccine

Abstract

Participants were a convenience sample of college women (n=384) ages 18 to 26 attending a large, public university in Southern California. An electronic self-administered survey was utilized to collect data. The theory of planned behavior provided a framework for understanding the factors associated with vaccine uptake and with post-vaccine sexual behaviors. Results: College women had good HPV/HPV vaccine knowledge. Over 90% of vaccinees and non-vaccinees knew that Pap test is still needed after the vaccination and an HPV vaccine does not protect against all STIs. Both groups also had positive attitudes toward mandatory vaccination. However, knowledge and attitudes toward the vaccine were not directly linked to the outcome predictors-intention to obtain the vaccine and vaccine uptake. While attitude toward getting vaccinated, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were correlated with the outcome predictors, subjective norms consistently predicted intention to obtain HPV vaccine and vaccine uptake. There were no significant differences in sexual behaviors (numbers of sexual partners in a life time, numbers of sexual partners in the past 12 months, condom use, condom use frequency) between non-vaccinees and vaccinees. The numbers of sexual partners before and after vaccination among vaccinees were also not significantly different. Conclusions: Strategies to ensure that those who are eligible for catch-up vaccination are vaccinated should include attention to college women's subjective norms. Vaccine mandatory proposal would not be unacceptable to this population and concerns that the HPV vaccine encourages unsafe sexual behaviors and practices among college aged women may be disregarded.

Predicting Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination and Pap Smear Screening Intentions Among Young Singaporean Women Using the Theory of Planned Behavior

“…However, the regression weight was negative (β = −0.73 to −0.71), contrary to TPB prevention studies, which found significant positive regression weights (β = 0.27 to 0.61; Askelson et al, 2010;Teitelman et al, 2011). One study observed that women might have entertained novel cognitions (i.e., thoughts of getting a vaccination) during questionnaire completion (Ratanasiripong et al, 2013), which may raise barrier perception, such as lack of time (Markovic et al, 2005) and affordability (Taylor et al, 2002), thus implying low control. From an empirical perspective, the negative regression weights for perceived behavioral control are likely due to the suppression phenomenon (Velicer, 1978).…”

Human papillomavirus vaccine communication: Perspectives of 11–12 year-old girls, mothers, and clinicians

“…However, few studies have explored the content of such conversations from the perspectives of adolescents, parents, and clinicians. Furthermore, although studies have examined perceptions of the HPV vaccine among youth[15–18] and parents,[15, 19, 20], little is known about perceived informational needs of 11–12 year-old girls and how those compare to the needs of parents. Understanding what information about HPV vaccines girls and mothers believe to be important could enhance clinician delivery of developmentally appropriate vaccine-related messages, which may lead to improved vaccine uptake.…”

Associations of health behaviors with human papillomavirus vaccine uptake, completion, and intentions among female undergraduate students

“…Previous studies with female undergraduates have examined demographic and psychosocial correlates of HPV vaccine receipt and intentions (Lindley et al, 2013; Ratanasiripong et al, 2013); however, an important gap in the literature is the examination of their relationship to a range of protective and risky health behaviors. Identifying relationships between health behaviors will inform the development of interventions targeting multiple health behaviors (e.g.…”