HPV vaccine rates not linked to knowledge about it

Date: Sep-25-2014Knowledge about HPV and the benefits of vaccination does not appear to spur parents - or the

kids who need it - to take it up. The study that came to this conclusion found neither more nor

less knowledge about the Human Papillomavirus and the vaccine seems to affect the take-up rate,

leading researchers to question the value of public knowledge and education campaigns.

The researchers, from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, report their

findings in the journal Pediatrics.

Lead author Dr. Jessica Fishman, of the department of psychiatry at Penn's Perelman School of

Medicine, says:

"Although knowledge is often assumed to be key to increasing vaccination rates, it may be unwise

to place so much promise on knowledge."

The study follows expressed concerns about the low take-up rate of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among

American adolescents. In July 2014, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

said while there has been a slight increase in HPV vaccination

among adolescents since 2012, the coverage in this population remains "unacceptably low."

HPV vaccines prevent cancers and genital warts

The HPV vaccine is administered in three doses and prevents the most common types of HPV.

HPV is a common virus that is spread through sexual contact.

Infection with HPV often comes without symptoms, so many people who have it do not know it.

There are around 40 types of genital HPV, some of which can cause cervical cancer in women and

other kinds of cancer in both men and women. There are also strains of HPV that can cause genital

warts in both men and women.

According to the CDC, every year, about 17,500 women and 9,300 men in the US are affected by

cancers caused by HPV, and about 1 in 100 sexually active American adults have genital warts at any

given time.

The HPV vaccine - which is given in three doses - prevents the most common types of HPV that

cause cervical cancer and genital warts.

One of the vaccines - the quadrivalent vaccine called Gardasil - is also recommended for boys

because it prevents them from getting a type of HPV that can cause cancers of the throat, penis and

anus. It also prevents genital warts. When boys are vaccinated, they are less likely to

spread HPV to their current and future partners.

In the US, the authorities recommend that all boys and girls who are 11 or 12 years old

should receive the HPV vaccine, and older adolescents who did not have it then should have it

now.

Increased knowledge about HPV and vaccine did not increase vaccine take-up

For their study, Dr. Fishman and colleagues surveyed 360 teenagers considered ideal candidates

for the HPV vaccine. The surveys asked the teenagers and their parents about their knowledge of HPV

and the vaccine.

The researchers then followed the group - via records kept through state immunization tracking

systems - for another 12 months to see who took up the vaccine. They found only about 14% of the

adolescents were ultimately vaccinated.

When they analyzed the vaccination results with the survey results, the team found neither

increased parental nor adolescent knowledge of HPV and the vaccine resulted in higher rates of

vaccination in the adolescents.

The authors say their findings raise questions about the use of public service announcements and

educational campaigns for HPV, and suggest other ways to increase the take-up rate of HPV

vaccination should be explored.

"Providers who reduce missed opportunities to offer vaccination, along with convenient and

affordable vaccination may be very important," urges Dr. Fishman.

She and her colleagues also call for more surveys to test if their findings are typical of

other, larger groups.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

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Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.