Knowledge and Acceptability of the HPV Vaccine Among Ethnically Diverse Black Women

• Published in: Journal of immigrant and minority health Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 747 - 757
• Main Authors: Wilson, Rula, Brown, Diane R., Boothe, Makini A. S., Harris, Caroline E. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer Science + Business Media 01.08.2013; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acceptability; Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Africa - ethnology; African Americans; African Americans - psychology; Age; Attitudes; Attrition (Research Studies); Barriers; Beliefs; Black people; Cancer; Caribbean Region - ethnology; Cervical cancer; Child; Community Surveys; Comparative Law; Content analysis; Cultural Characteristics; Cultural Influences; Cultural Pluralism; Culture; Decision making; Dentistry; Disease prevention; Ethnic Groups; Ethnicity; FDA approval; Female; Females; Focus Groups; Health behavior; Health disparities; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hispanic Americans; Human papillomavirus; Human papillomaviruses; Humans; Immunization; Infections; International & Foreign Law; Knowledge; Knowledge Level; Low Income; Low income groups; Male; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Minority & ethnic groups; Mortality; ORIGINAL PAPER; Papillomavirus Infections - ethnology; Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control; Papillomavirus Vaccines - administration & dosage; Parent Responsibility; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology; Poverty; Private International Law; Public Health; Public health education; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sociology; Statistical analysis; STD; Studies; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - ethnology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - virology; Vaccination; Vaccines; White people; Whites; Women; Womens health; Africa; Caribbean Region; United States > US; Cancer prevention; Ethnicity; Human papillomavirus (HPV); Black women; Health disparities
• ISSN: 1557-1912; 1557-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s10903-012-9749-5

The purpose of the study was to examine HPV vaccine knowledge and acceptability among ethnically diverse Black women. Forty-four women were interviewed in 6 focus groups (2 African American, 2 English-speaking Caribbean, 1 Haitian, and 1 African). Thematic content analysis was used to generate common concepts and themes and to compare findings across groups. There was varied but limited knowledge and confusion across ethnic groups about the HPV infection and vaccine. African and Haitian women had the least knowledge. Overall, women were generally receptive toward the HPV vaccine for girls but unclear about the need to vaccinate boys. Concerns about the HPV vaccine were mainly related to side effects/safety and vaccinating children at a young age. Healthcare provider’s recommendation of the vaccination was important for decision making. Educational interventions with Black women about HPV vaccination should recognize cultural beliefs that vary by ethnic group.