Salient factors among Hispanic parents in South Florida rural communities for vaccinating their children against human papillomavirus

• Published in: Journal of pediatric nursing 2020-09, Vol.54, p.24-33
• Main Authors: Fernandez-Pineda, Madeline, Cianelli, Rosina, Villegas, Natalia, Matsuda, Yui, Iriarte Parra, Evelyn Scarlett, Montano, Nilda Peragallo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alphapapillomavirus; Child; Florida; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic/Latino parents; Human papillomavirus vaccine uptake; Humans; Nursing; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Parents; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Rural Hispanics; Rural Population; Theory of planned behavior; United States; Vaccination
• ISSN: 0882-5963; 1532-8449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2020.05.016

Few studies have tried to understand the factors related to HPV vaccination among Hispanics living in rural communities in the United States (US). Nationally, HPV vaccination among Hispanics is suboptimal (26.1%) compared to the HealthyPeople 2020 goal of 80% and even more suboptimal in rural communties. This study aimed to determine the salient factors among Hispanic parents for vaccinating their children against HPV and for designing a future HPV prevention intervention for Hispanics. A descriptive qualitative design was used. Saturation was reached after conducting four focus groups with 23 Hispanic parents from rural communities in South Florida. Directed content analysis using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs was used to analyze the transcripts. All TPB constructs were identified as salient factors for HPV vaccination including background factors, attitudes towards the behavior, perceived norms, perceived behavioral control, actual control, intention, and behavior. Addressing HPV vaccination by developing educational programs based on the TPB and tailored to meet the needs of Hispanic parents is urgently needed to prevent HPV among Hispanics in rural US communities. This approach can also serve as a directive to target HPV vaccination among Hispanics in other rural areas in the US. Pediatric nurses must proactively promote and recommend the HPV vaccine (HPVV), educate parents on having sex-related discussions with their children, include children in the HPVV education and decision, bundle the HPVV with other child vaccines, and utilize reminder systems to ensure completion of the vaccine series. •All Theory of Planned Behavior constructs were identified as salient for HPV vaccine uptake.•Only half of the Hispanic parents living in this rural community had heard of the HPV vaccine.•Hispanic mothers were the main decision-maker for their child's HPV vaccination.•Fear of side effects was the most common barrier to HPV vaccination.•Healthcare providers should have the HPV vaccine stocked at all times.