Parents’ attitudes affected probability of male HPV vaccination

ATLANTA — Only half of surveyed parents intended to vaccinate their sons with the human papillomavirus vaccine despite the general belief that vaccination is important, according to data presented here at the 44th National Immunization Conference.

Researchers from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor conducted a cross-sectional, Web-based survey of a national sample of parents with male children aged 18 years or younger. The survey was administered about three months before the HPV vaccine was licensed for boys and men in 2009.

The researchers assessed parents’ perceived importance of male HPV vaccination; intentions to have their own sons vaccinated; and independent predictors of these intentions.

Seventy percent of respondents had sons, and the response rate was 62% among these parents, according to the researchers. Sixty-five percent of these respondents were white, and 56% were women with at least a high school degree.

Survey responses indicated that 90% of parents considered male HPV vaccination as “generally important,” yet only half intended to vaccinate their sons.

Fifty-three percent of parents of boys aged 0 to 8 years said they would “likely” or “very likely” vaccinate their sons when they became adolescents if a safe, effective and affordable HPV vaccine were available, the researchers noted. For boys aged 9 to 17 years, 48% of parents would likely or very likely have their sons vaccinated if a vaccine became available within the next two years.

The researchers said boys’ age, parents’ education and race also may have influenced the intention to vaccinate. Parents who had high school degrees and sons aged 9 to 17 years were less likely to vaccinate their children (adjusted OR=0.20; 95% CI, 0.06-0.73). Black parents of boys in the same age group, however, were more likely to vaccinate their sons (adjusted OR=3.18; 95% CI, 1.22-8.28).

Results revealed that the perceived benefits of vaccination were the strongest positive predictor of intention to vaccinate in both age groups, with adjusted ORs of 6.78 (95% CI, 3.18-14.49) for young boys and 17.49 (95% CI, 6.72-45.52) for adolescent boys.

The strongest negative predictor of intent in both age groups was perceived barriers to vaccination, the researchers said. Perceived susceptibility and normative beliefs were also important but to a lesser degree.

The researchers also noted, however, that survey responses may have changed since the HPV vaccine received licensure for boys. – by Melissa Foster

For more information:

Dempsey AF. #22427. Presented at: 44th National Immunization Conference; April 19-22, 2010; Atlanta.