A community-based intervention on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among Cambodian American Women

Background: Cambodian American women have high rates of invasive cervical cancer compared to the national average. Low rates of Pap Smear and HPV tests are major contributors. Parents are reluctant or slow to vaccinate their daughters due to limited knowledge and multiple barriers and misperceptions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally and linguistically appropriate education intervention in increasing HPV knowledge and willingness for their daughter's HPV vaccination among Cambodian American women. Methods: This pilot study used one-group pre-post test design. Cambodian women (n=104) aged 18 to 50 were recruited from community-based organizations located in Pennsylvania. Participants completed assessments at pre and post education. Results: After education, participants' knowledge about the HPV and risk of contracting HPV significantly increased. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the participants indicated that if they are a parent or became a parent of a daughter, it is very likely/somewhat likely that they would have their teenage daughter vaccinated against HPV. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study suggest that a culturally and linguistically appropriate workshop can be highly effective in increasing Cambodian women's knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV and their intentions for their daughters to obtain HPV vaccination. We hope this project will lay the groundwork for a large-scale intervention research in the near future.