268268 Medical mistrust as a factor in HPV vaccine intentions among a sample of unvaccinated women of color

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Natalie D. Hernandez, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 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
Lauren Young, BA , Department of Epidemiology, 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
Nancy Romero-Daza, PhD , Department of Anthropology, 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
Woojin Chong, MD , Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Women's Health, Albert Einstein Medical Center/Montefiore Medical Center/Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY
     
Introduction: Suspicion and apprehension about vaccination is common, particularly among specific disenfranchised communities in the U.S. Growing evidence suggests that medical mistrust is a barrier to health care participation, including mistrust concerning the HPV vaccine. Due to the disproportionate burden of HPV-related disease among racial/ethnic minority women, mistrust as a barrier to HPV vaccination uptake requires further investigation.

Purpose: To examine differences on medical mistrust and HPV vaccination intentions among unvaccinated racial/ethnic minority women.

Methods: Unvaccinated women (n=433) at a large public university completed a web-based survey assessing HPV vaccine uptake and mistrust of the health care system.

Results: Among unvaccinated females, 76% did not intend to get the HPV vaccine in the next year. Self-identified Black women scored significantly higher (p<0.01) on the mistrust scale. Females who had gender preferences for providers had higher average medical mistrust scores than those that with neutral or no preference (p<0.05). Among women who did not intend to get vaccinated, medical mistrust scores were significantly higher among women who cited they did not want to receive any vaccines (p<0.05), feared possible side effects (p<0.01) and who didn't know where to get the vaccine (p<0.05).

Conclusions: More prevalent mistrust beliefs among Black women may explain low HPV vaccine intentions among this group. Insufficient information as well as personal and family beliefs regarding the HPV vaccine may be contributing to increased mistrust among these populations. Strategies for HPV vaccine uptake should use a lifecourse approach that addresses individual, family,and community concerns.

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 medical mistrust and HPV vaccine intentions among a sample of racial/ethnic minority college students 2.To discuss factors that can inform development of public health initiatives to increase HPV 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 am the Investigator of the study and have expertise in sexual and reproductive health disparities.
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.

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