HPV vaccination uptake among Cambodian mothers

J Cancer Educ. 2012 Mar;27(1):145-8. doi: 10.1007/s13187-011-0269-0.

Abstract

Women of Southeast Asian descent have higher cervical cancer incidence rates than any other group. Widespread use of HPV vaccination could prevent up to 70% of cervical cancers. There is little published information addressing HPV vaccination uptake among Asian Americans. We conducted a survey of Cambodian women with daughters who were age-eligible for HPV vaccination. Survey items addressed HPV vaccination barriers, facilitators, and uptake. Only 26% of the survey participants reported any of their age-eligible daughters had received vaccination, and only 40% reported a previous physician recommendation for vaccination. Higher levels of vaccine uptake were strongly associated with having received a doctor's recommendation for vaccination (p < 0.001) and having asked a doctor for vaccination (p = 0.002). HPV vaccine uptake was relatively low in our Cambodian study group. Educational initiatives should encourage health care providers who serve Cambodian families to recommend HPV vaccination and empower Cambodian mothers to ask their daughters' doctors for vaccination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cambodia
  • Child
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Papillomaviridae
  • Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / psychology
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / psychology
  • Vaccination / psychology*
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Papillomavirus Vaccines