Culture and acculturation: Examining factors that are associated with acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccines among Latinos

Latino communities in the US experience an increased incidence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the primary risk factor for cervical carcinogenesis. Increasing availability of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (GARDASIL) may help attenuate this disparity. However, to effectively promote the vaccine to age-eligible Latino women and their parents, it is first essential to understand socio-cultural factors associated with vaccine acceptability among this population sub-group. This presentation will highlight results from a cross-sectional study examining HPV vaccine acceptability among a national sample of Spanish-speaking callers (n=500) to the National Cancer Institute's (NCI), Cancer Information Service (CIS) Spanish Call Center. Female callers were asked to participate in a survey, which gauged, among other constructs, ethnic identity and acculturation; knowledge of cervical cancer, HPV and other risk factors for disease; as well as, HPV vaccine acceptability. Examination of such factors has the potential to inform the scope and content of future cervical cancer-focused health communication initiatives for Latinos. This presentation will offer insight for how to appropriately tailor, culturally-relevant, communication interventions to increase HPV vaccine acceptability among Latinos. With increasing multiculturalism in the United States, it is essential to understand the diverse perspectives about health and disease prevention between Latino women of different levels of acculturation, educational attainment, years in the US, and ethnic identity.