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Parental Acceptance of a Mandatory Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program

Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Center (DF)
Departments of Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology (DF)
Department of Biostatistics (JLW)
Medical College of Georgia (LH), Augusta, Georgia

Correspondence: Corresponding author: Dr. Daron G. Ferris, Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, 1423 Harper Street, HH-105, Augusta, GA 30912 (E-mail: agerman{at}mcg.edu)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine factors that influence parent's acceptance of a mandatory school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program.

Methods: A convenience sample of 325 parents, with children aged 9 to 17 years old, completed a 53-item survey. Survey questions targeted their opinions about HPV, the HPV vaccine, and a mandatory HPV vaccination program. ² tests were used to examine relationships between survey items.

Results: Characteristics of parents who believed the HPV vaccine should be mandated included limited financial resources (P = .03), history of HPV-related disease (P = .04), understanding their child's susceptibility (P = .03), interest in HPV vaccination for their child (P = .0001), and knowledge that the vaccine reduces the risk of cervical cancer (P = .001). Parents of children aged 12 to 14 years old (P = .02) or who knew the vaccine reduced their child's risk of developing genital warts (P = .02) and cervical cancer (P = .001) would be more likely to comply with a mandatory HPV vaccine program.

Conclusions: Certain characteristics define parents who support a mandatory HPV vaccination program. Greater education of parents and health care providers should improve vaccination uptake, which ultimately reduces morbidity and mortality from HPV related diseases.

Key Words: Human Papillomavirus • Health Care Surveys • Attitude • Vaccination

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