Parents' Support for School-Entry Requirements for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: A National Study

Abstract

Background The number of states proposing school-entry requirements for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has increased over the last decade. However, data are currently limited regarding parents' support of such laws. We sought to obtain the first national estimates of parents' support of HPV vaccination school-entry requirements. Methods A national sample of 1501 parents of 11- to 17-year-old children completed a web-based survey between November 2014 and January 2015. Analyses used multivariable logistic regression to assess correlates of support for school-entry requirements for HPV vaccination. Results Overall, 21% of parents agreed that laws requiring HPV vaccination for school attendance "are a good idea," and 54% disagreed. If school-entry requirements included opt-out provisions, agreement increased to 57%, and only 21% disagreed. Parents more often agreed with requirements without opt-out provisions if they were Hispanic (OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.05–2.22), believed HPV vaccine was as or more important than other adolescent vaccines (OR=2.76, 95% CI: 1.98–3.83), or believed HPV vaccine was effective for preventing cervical cancer (OR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.93–3.37). Parents less often agreed if they resided in Midwest states or believed that HPV vaccine was being pushed to make money for drug companies (both p<.05). Conclusion Opt-out provisions almost tripled parents' support for HPV vaccine school-entry requirements. Our findings suggest that race/ethnicity, attitudes about HPV vaccine, and region of residence may influence support for requirements without opt-out provisions. Impact Opt-out provisions greatly increase parent support of school-entry requirements for HPV vaccination but may make them ineffective.

A Narrative Engagement Framework to Understand HPV Vaccination Among Latina and Vietnamese Women in a Planned Parenthood Setting

“…For Latina women, the experience of empowerment through sexual health education outside the home environment led them to utilize vaccine prevention services and vaccinate even when their parents disagreed or discouraged HPV vaccination. Continuing school-based programs may help mitigate the cultural barriers that can impede women from vaccinating, and policies supporting these types of programs inherently promote health equity by providing equal access to sexual health education (Calo, Gilkey, Shah, Moss, & Brewer, 2016; Grose, Grabe, & Kohlfeldt, 2014). …”

Parents' willingness to get human papillomavirus vaccination for their adolescent children at a pharmacy

“…We used these data to evaluate perceived importance of HPV vaccine relative to other recommended adolescent vaccines (Calo et al, 2016). We gave a score of 1 if parents rated HPV vaccine as important as, or more important than, the average score for meningococcal and Tdap vaccines and 0 otherwise.…”

Reaching 80% human papillomavirus vaccination prevalence by 2026: How many adolescents need to be vaccinated and what are their characteristics?

“…39 In addition, parental text-message and mailed reminders as well as in-clinic provider electronic reminders may boost vaccination rates, and repeated physician recommendations may be needed to convince parents who initially refuse. [49][50][51][52] In the United States, the impact of voluntary and mandated school-based initiatives is unclear. 41 Other countries, including Portugal, England, and Australia, have achieved HPVV initiation rates of 80% or higher with large-scale and population-based approaches, including school-based programs.…”