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Published on: March 8, 2012
Evaluation of an Inpatient Postpartum Human Papillomavirus Immunization Program
Lital Avni-Singer1, Carlos R Oliveira, Ashlynn Torres
1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and the Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, and the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut.
An inpatient postpartum human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization pilot program increased vaccination rates and reduced missed opportunities. This approach is critical for improving vaccine uptake in diverse, low-income populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Immunology
- Gynecology
Background:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection linked to various cancers.
- Vaccination is a primary prevention strategy against HPV-related diseases.
- Postpartum is a critical window for healthcare engagement, yet HPV vaccination rates remain suboptimal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of an inpatient postpartum HPV immunization pilot program.
- To assess HPV vaccine uptake and series completion in a diverse, low-income urban population.
- To identify factors influencing subsequent outpatient HPV vaccine doses.
Main Methods:
- A 2-year prospective cohort study of an inpatient postpartum HPV immunization program.
- Identification and immunization of eligible women during hospital stays.
- Logistic regression, time-to-event analyses, chi-squared tests, and t-tests were used to analyze data.
Main Results:
- 67.3% of eligible women received the first HPV dose during their inpatient stay.
- Women receiving the inpatient dose were significantly more likely to complete the HPV vaccine series.
- The program reduced missed opportunities for subsequent outpatient doses by 30.7 per 100 eligible visits.
Conclusions:
- The inpatient postpartum HPV immunization program significantly increased HPV vaccination rates.
- This program effectively addressed a missed opportunity for vaccination in a vulnerable population.
- Inpatient immunization strategies are vital for closing gaps in vaccine coverage.
