HPV vaccine acceptance among mid-adult women

To determine correlates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine acceptance in mid-adult women.

A convenience sample of 472 mid-adult women completed a 2-part, 69-item survey that included demographic, knowledge, and behavioral variables as potential correlates of vaccine acceptance. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify correlates for vaccine acceptance.

Mid-adult women who received the HPV vaccine were more likely to be younger than 55 years (P < .001); have had an abnormal Papanicolaou test (odds ratio [OR], 2.15; 95% CI, 1.18-3.92); understand that HPV causes cervical cancer (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.08-5.30); feel at risk for HPV infection (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.00-4.57), and feel it is important for their partner (OR, 25.20; 95% CI, 9.66-65.72) and children (OR, 3.54; CI, 0.51-24.56) to get the HPV vaccine. Monogamous mid-adult women (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.21-1.00); women who did not want any vaccines (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.07-0.92); and women who felt it was too late to get the vaccine (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.08-0.44) were less likely to want the HPV vaccine.

These clinical predictors of HPV vaccine acceptance will help clinicians recognize mid-adult women who may be more receptive to vaccination.