Adult women viewed the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine positively, but their decision to be vaccinated will likely be very influenced by the cost of the vaccine, according to a survey published in the August 19 issue of Sexual Health.
With the US Food and Drug Administration considering approval of HPV vaccination for women older than 26 years, researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center surveyed 1323 women between 27 and 55 years to determine interest in vaccination. They also sought to clarify which issues were associated with acceptance. The sample included an oversampling of black and Hispanic women.
Vaccine cost was highly correlated with a woman’s decision to be vaccinated (P <.0001). Other factors influencing the decision included religiosity, political views, a history of various negative sexual health outcomes (ie, a genital warts outbreak, at least one abnormal Pap test) and previous flu shot receipt. Women were asked if they preferred to receive the vaccine in their doctor’s office or a local pharmacy to judge the effect of convenience on their decision to be vaccinated. However, only a slight preference for a doctor’s office was found.