Most Mothers Oppose HPV Vaccination for Younger Daughters

Last Updated: 2009-05-26 1:00:10 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research suggests that most mothers in the US do not intend to have a 9- to 12-year-old daughter vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), even though the national HPV vaccination guidelines specifically target 11- to 12-year-old girls. HPV vaccination has been advocated as a key means of preventing cervical cancer.

According to the report in the June issue of Pediatrics, 48% of mothers intended to have a 9- to 12-year-old daughter vaccinated against HPV. This contrasts with the intention to vaccinate 68% and 86% of girls 13 to 15 and 16 to 18 years of age, respectively.

"Parental attitudes about HPV vaccines will be key determinants of adolescent vaccination, but previous studies have demonstrated that some parents have specific concerns about vaccinating their daughters. Additional information about HPV vaccine acceptability in US mothers is needed," Dr. Jessica A. Kahn, from Cincinnati Children"s Hospital Medical Center, Ohio, and co-researchers note.

The new findings stem from a study of 10,521 mothers, all nurses, who were surveyed from June 2006 through February 2007. A total of 8832 mothers (84%) completed the survey, of whom 7207 had a daughter.

In addition to assessing the subjects" intentions to vaccinate a daughter, the researchers examined their willingness to undergo HPV vaccination themselves. In this regard, just 48% of mothers said they would be immunized if recommended.

The authors identified several beliefs that significantly predicted an intention to vaccinate a 9- to 12-year-old daughter, including that regular Papanicolaou testing is important, that the vaccine offers the best protection against cervical cancer, and that vaccination does not lead to riskier sex.

"The findings of this study suggest that educational interventions designed to affect mothers" willingness to vaccinate their daughters against HPV should focus on HPV vaccine efficacy, behavioral impact of vaccination, perceived risk of HPV, and clinician support for vaccination," the authors conclude.

Pediatrics 2009;123:1439-1445.


"Reuters content is the intellectual property of Reuters Limited. Any copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon."