Factors associated with HPV vaccine use among Hispanic college students

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and is linked strongly to cervical cancer. Hispanic women are at increased risk of cervical cancer from HPV due to lower screening rates with women in their early 20s at increased risk.

The purpose of this project was to describe HPV vaccination rates and possible barriers to vaccination among a sample of U.S. collegeaged Hispanic women.

A secondary analysis of the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment was completed to determine HPV vaccine rates and factors influencing vaccine use among college-aged Hispanic women (n=4,718). Descriptive statistics were calculated and binary logistic regression employed to determine the association of various socioeconomic and health-seeking behaviors on HPV vaccine utilization.

Only 46.2% of Hispanic women in the NCHA reported receiving an HPV vaccine. Binary logistic regression analysis indicates that having health insurance, use of preventive care, and good health status are significantly associated with HPV vaccine use.

Hispanic college women ages 18-26 demonstrated lower HPV vaccination rates as compared to Caucasian women. Tailoring health promotion activities to specific racial populations such as Hispanic women is necessary to decrease disparities in HPV vaccination rates. The fact that racial/ethnic minority women in the U.S. have lower HPV vaccination rates and gynecological exam rates indicates that specialized health promotion activities may be an avenue for designing educational strategies to lessen disparities.