268225 Acculturation and vaccine attitudes among racial and ethnic minority females

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

Lauren Young, BA , Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Natalie D. Hernandez, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stephanie Kolar, MSPH , Department of Epidemiology, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Ellen Daley, PhD , Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Women's Health, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Christopher Wheldon, MSPH, MEd , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Rasheeta Chandler, PhD, MS, ARNP, FNP-BC , College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Nancy Romero-Daza, PhD , Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Woojin Chong, MD , Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Women's Health, Albert Einstein Medical Center/Montefiore Medical Center/Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY
Background: The HPV vaccine has the potential to reduce cervical cancer disparities. Evidence suggests that cervical cancer incidence and mortality are higher among racial/ethnic minority females due to low utilization of preventive services. Research studies have found that acculturation has a mixed effect on cervical cancer screening, yet little is known about acculturation and HPV vaccine uptake.

Purpose: To examine the association between acculturation and vaccine attitudes among racial/ethnic minority women.

Methods: This study consisted of a multiracial ethnic sample of females (n=711). Bivariate correlations were calculated between composite measures of attitudes towards HPV vaccine (alpha=0.77; 7-point scale), general vaccine attitudes, and a validated multicultural assimilation and integration scale (AHIMSA). Alpha levels of 0.05 were used to evaluate statistical significance.

Results: AHIMSA scores ranged from 0 to 8 (i.e. higher score indicates higher assimilation/integration), with average assimilation and integration scores of 3.47 and 3.73 respectively. Attitudes toward HPV vaccination were generally positive (M=5.16) and strongly correlated with general vaccine attitudes. Apprehensiveness regarding the safeguards of vaccines in general, as well as prohibitive religious beliefs toward vaccination were moderately correlated with HPV vaccination attitudes (r= -0.28 and -0.26, respectively). While AHIMSA scores were not directly correlated with HPV vaccination attitudes, they exhibited small associations with general vaccine attitudes. Higher assimilation was negatively correlated with religious beliefs prohibiting vaccination, while higher integration was positively correlated (r=-0.10 and 0.08 respectively).

Conclusions: Given these preliminary findings, the role of multicultural assimilation and integration in vaccine promotion among ethnic minorities, further in-depth investigation is warranted.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1.To describe the association between acculturation and vaccine attitudes among a racially diverse sample of college students 2.To discuss factors that can inform development of public health initiatives to increase vaccination rates among racial/ethnic minority females.

Keywords: Cancer Prevention, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I assisted in the planning and implementation of the survey. I also conducted data analysis.
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.