Abstract
Determinants of parental HPV vaccine hesitancy, including medical mistrust and exposure to negative vaccine information, are understudied in racial/ethnic minority communities where vaccine uptake is low. We conducted a cross-sectional survey (March 2021) among parents of adolescents, ages 9-17 years, from an academic enrichment program serving low-income, first-generation, underrepresented minority families in Los Angeles to understand determinants of parental HPV vaccine hesitancy. Parents completed self-administered surveys, including a 9-item HPV vaccine hesitancy scale, in either English, Spanish, or Chinese. Logistic regression was used to identify individual and interpersonal factors associated with parental hesitancy and adolescent HPV vaccination. One-fifth of parents (n = 357) reported high HPV vaccine hesitancy and > 50% reported concerns about safety or side effects. High medical mistrust was associated with high parental HPV vaccine hesitancy (adjusted-OR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.37). Community-tailored and multilevel strategies to increase vaccine confidence are needed to improve HPV and other adolescent vaccinations.
Tsui J, Martinez B, Shin MB, Allee-Munoz A, Rodriguez I, Navarro J, Thomas-Barrios KR, Kast WM, Baezconde-Garbanati L. Understanding medical mistrust and HPV vaccine hesitancy among multiethnic parents in Los Angeles. J Behav Med. 2023 Apr;46(1-2):100-115. doi: 10.1007/s10865-022-00283-9. Epub 2022 Feb 2. PubMed PMID: 35107656; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8808279.