Factors influencing human papillomavirus vaccine decision among young Haitian women

Background: The causal link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer is well established.  While college aged women are eligible for the vaccine and are at high-risk of HPV acquisition, less than 50% of them have been vaccinated.  In the United States, racial/ethnic minorities, foreign-born, and medically underserved women have a disproportionate burden of cervical cancer.

Objective: To understand HPV vaccine perception and identify factors that influence young Haitian females’ vaccine decision.

Methods:  Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with Haitian females aged 18-26 years in Miami, Florida.  Participants were recruited from the university’s Haitian Student Club. Interviews were conducted until saturation in themes was reached. All interviews were transcribed verbatim, and two independent researchers manually coded the data prior to using Nvivo to assist with the analyses.             

Results: Study participants were young Haitian female college students between 18-26 years of age. Overall, there was a positive perception about HPV vaccine; however, side effects of the vaccine were mentioned by several participants. Uneasiness about having a conversation about sexuality with parents, parents’ vaccine perception and HPV vaccine knowledge, ability to pay for the vaccine, necessity to inform parents’ regarding vaccine intention, perceived susceptibility, and independence were cited among factors that influenced vaccine decision.

Conclusion: There is an acute need to carry out culturally sensitive education among Haitian parents in order for them to understand the benefits of vaccination and cervical cancer prevention. Lack of understanding among Haitian parents leads to missed HPV vaccine opportunity among young Haitian females.