Correlates of intent to be vaccinated against human papillomavirus: an exploratory study of college-aged women

Abstract

This study identified correlates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine acceptance among college-aged women. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire. In multivariate analyses, women having vaginal sex (past 12 months) were nearly four times more likely to indicate acceptance (P = 0.0001). Those reporting ever having a sexually transmissible infection (STI; P = 0.03) and those indicating ever having an abnormal Pap test (P = 0.03) were more likely to indicate acceptance. Thus, three forms of ‘exposure’ (having sex, having an STI or abnormal Pap) may be linked to vaccine acceptance among young women attending universities. The findings suggest that opportunities may exist for clinic-based HPV vaccine promotion among this population of women.