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Maternal preventive care use increased HPV vaccination rates in boys
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Mothers who utilize preventive care are most likely to have their sons vaccinated for quadrivalent HPV, according to recent study findings published in the American Journal of Public Health.
“Our study findings suggest that a mother’s receipt of preventive services may have an impact on their son’s HPV4 (Gardasil, Merck) vaccination,” Rulin Hechter, MD, PhD, of the department of research and evaluation at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said in a press release. “These mothers might be more familiar with preventive measures for HPV infection, influencing their decision to have their children vaccinated.”
Rulin Hechter
The study included 254,489 boys aged 9 to 17 years enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health plan from Oct. 21, 2009, to Dec. 21, 2010.
Researchers found an association between the initiations of the HPV4 series and maternal influenza vaccine receipt (RR=1.16; 95% CI, 1.07-1.26) and Pap screening (RR=1.13; 95% CI, 1.01-1.26).
Participants whose mothers had a history of genital warts also were more likely to receive the vaccination (RR=1.47; 95% CI, 0.93-2.34); however, this was not statistically significant (P=.1).
“Given that vaccination offers an opportunity to achieve community immunity and reduce transmission of HPV, understanding a mother’s health-seeking behaviors may help health care professionals develop strategies for increasing vaccination rates among adolescent boys,” Hechter said.
Disclosure: The study was funded in part by the Department of Research &d Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
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