193390 Mother-daughter communication about HPV vaccination

Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 1:10 PM

Annie-Laurie McRee, MPH , Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Noel T. Brewer, PhD , Health Behavior and Health Education, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
Paul L. Reiter, PhD , Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Sami L. Gottlieb, MD, MSPH , Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Jennifer S. Smith, PhD , Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
  
BACKGROUND: Research on HPV vaccine acceptability has primarily focused on parents. The purpose of this study was to examine communication between mothers and their adolescent daughters about HPV vaccine and the role daughters play in vaccination decisions.

METHODS: We interviewed mothers (n=609) of girls aged 10-18 living in North Carolina counties with elevated cervical cancer mortality. The sample was 74% White, 23% African American, and 49% from rural areas. Data were examined with logistic regression.

RESULTS: Most mothers (81%) had discussed HPV vaccination with their daughters. Correlates of discussing the vaccine included higher income, older age of mother or daughter, and the daughter being vaccinated against HPV (all p<.05). Of mothers who reported discussing HPV vaccine, 47% said that talking about the vaccine led to a conversation about sex. Conversations about sex were more common with daughters who were older, with those perceived to be sexually active, and among urban residents (p<.05 for each). Half of mothers said their daughters participated either a moderate amount or a great deal in decisions about whether to get vaccinated. Daughters 16 years and older were more likely than younger daughters to be primary decision-makers about HPV vaccination (17% vs. 3%, p<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Many adolescent girls are involved in discussions about HPV vaccine and in vaccination decisions. Because some mothers are using HPV vaccination as an opportunity to provide guidance about sex, parents may need information and support to discuss HPV vaccine and sexual health issues with their children.

This study was supported by the CDC and ACS.

Learning Objectives:
Identify correlates of mother-daughter communication about HPV vaccine. Describe adolescent involvement in HPV vaccination decision-making.

Keywords: Adolescents, Immunizations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I assisted with the planning of the study and the development of the data collection tool. I formed the research questions for this presentation, conducted the data analysis, interpreted the results, and wrote up the findings.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Human Papilloma Virus and Adolescents
See more of: Population, Reproductive and Sexual Health