A significant portion of college students are not aware of HPV disease and HPV vaccine recommendations

Caitlyn Kellogg; Janella Shu; Ayana Arroyo; Ngoc Tuyen Dinh; Nia Wade; Elizabeth Sanchez; Ozlem Equils

doi:10.1080/21645515.2019.1627819

A significant portion of college students are not aware of HPV disease and HPV vaccine recommendations

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2019;15(7-8):1760-1766. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1627819. Epub 2019 Jul 9.

Authors

Caitlyn Kellogg^{1

2}, Janella Shu^{1

3}, Ayana Arroyo^{1

4}, Ngoc Tuyen Dinh^{1

5}, Nia Wade^{1

5

6}, Elizabeth Sanchez^{1

5}, Ozlem Equils^{1

7}

Affiliations

¹ a MiOra , Encino , CA , USA.
² b University of California San Diego School of Medicine , San Diego , CA , USA.
³ c UCLA Masters of Applied Statistics Program, University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
⁴ d East Los Angeles College, Physician Assistant Program , Monterey Park , CA , USA.
⁵ e Community Health Science and School Health Program, California State University , Long Beach , CA , USA.
⁶ f Pre-Med Program, East Los Angeles College , Monterey Park , CA , USA.
⁷ g Immunization Coalition of Los Angeles County and Immunize LA Families Coalition , Los Angeles , CA , USA.

Abstract

There is limited data on the HPV immunization status of Latino/Hispanic youth in the USA. In Los Angeles County in 2015, 54,973 (34.3%) college students were of Latino/Hispanic background. We examined Los Angeles County college students' awareness of HPV and HPV-related disease, HPV vaccine recommendations, and their vaccination status. This study surveyed 212 Los Angeles college students from January to April 2018. In a convenience sampling study, a 31-question, IRB-approved survey was administered face-to-face to college students 18 years and older at California State University settings in Los Angeles County. Almost two-thirds of the male (65%) and half of the female (51.6%) respondents did not know that the HPV vaccine is recommended through 26 years of age, and 47.6% did not know they can get the HPV vaccine at the college student health center or youth-friendly clinics. Ethnicity, family income, and the highest level of education in the family had a significant impact on immunization rates. Self-reported and actual HPV knowledge levels were significantly associated with vaccination status. Educational strategies focusing on the logistics of receiving the HPV vaccine and HPV vaccine catch-up eligibility for college students may be effective in decreasing racial disparities in vaccine receipt.

Keywords: HPV; Hispanic; Latino; access; catch-up; college; immunization; logistics; recommendations; vaccine.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Educational Status
Ethnicity
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Los Angeles
Male
Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control*
Papillomavirus Vaccines / administration & dosage*
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Socioeconomic Factors
Students / psychology*
Students / statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities*
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / prevention & control
Vaccination Coverage / statistics & numerical data
Young Adult

Substances

Papillomavirus Vaccines

Grants and funding

This work was supported by MiOra (www.miora.org), an educational nonprofit. This work is also funded in part by a grant from the California Wellness Foundation (Cal Wellness). The foundation’s mission is to improve the health of Californians. Cal Wellness is dedicated to promoting equity through advocacy and access;California Wellness Foundation [2018-340].