Reasons Why Parents Do or Do Not Get Their Daughters Vaccinated Against HPV

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
1) Describe the key factors that underlie parents' decisions about having their daughters vaccinated against HPV.
2) Understand the relative influence of these factors between parents who do and do have their daughters vaccinated against HPV.

Background:
Parental consent is required for adolescents to receive the HPV vaccine. Understanding the factors important in parental decisions about this vaccine is a critical first step in developing effective interventions to facilitate HPV vaccine uptake.

Objectives:
To identify the factors which are important to parents in their decision-making about HPV vaccination for their adolescent daughters.

Methods:
Medical billing data were used to identify parents of 11-17 year old females seen for preventive care visits at the University of Michigan between January and March, 2007. Semi-structured telephone interviews of parents whose daughters did or did not receive the HPV vaccine were conducted. Framework analysis was used to analyze written transcripts of the interviews and to develop a thematic framework of factors underlying this decision.

Results:
Fifty six parents were interviewed (35 whose daughter received vaccine, 21 whose daughter did not). Thirteen key domains underlying parental decisions about HPV vaccination were identified. Among parents of vaccinated daughters, personal experience with HPV, increased perceived risk of infection, physician recommendation and a desire for protection were motivating factors for vaccination. Parents of unvaccinated daughters frequently cited lack of knowledge about HPV, age-related concerns, and low perceived risk of infection as barriers to vaccination. Both groups had significant concerns about the long term safety of the vaccine.

Conclusions:
Addressing safety concerns, improving personal knowledge about HPV and educating parents about the likelihood of infection at different ages may be the most useful targets for future interventions to promote HPV vaccination.