To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? An examination of college women's perceptions regarding the HPV vaccine

Background: Although the HPV vaccine was approved for women between ages 9-26, HPV prevalence among this group remains high. Despite immunization recommendations by the ACIP, uptake of the HPV vaccine among college-aged women is the lowest. Few studies have examined college women's knowledge, perceptions, and intentions since vaccination licensure.

Purpose: To examine differences among college women by vaccination status on knowledge, perceptions, and beliefs regarding the HPV vaccine.

Methods: Female undergraduate students (n=276) completed a paper-and-pencil survey assessing their HPV knowledge, vaccine perceptions and beliefs. Frequencies and chi-squares were tabulated to compare females who reported that they had received the HPV vaccine to those who reported they had not had it or were unsure.

Results: Vaccinated females scored significantly higher on a summary score of 23 true/false HPV knowledge questions (p<0.01), with an average correct score of 65% versus 57%. When asked what they had heard about the HPV vaccine, significantly more unvaccinated answered: that it makes people sick (36% versus 16%, p<0.01). Significantly more vaccinated females answered that they had heard: the vaccine is safe (86% versus 64%, p<0.01) and significantly more vaccinated females responded that they had not heard: the vaccine costs a lot of money (63%% versus 36%, p<0.01); the vaccine is not safe (91% versus 58%, p<0.01); and the vaccine is available for females 9-26 years old (26% versus 14%, p<0.05).

Conclusions: Findings suggest that continued efforts are needed to address misconceptions and barriers to promote further understanding of HPV, and the vaccine.