The impact of an interactive education forum intervention on increasing East African mothers’ HPV vaccine-related knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to vaccinate their adolescent children

Abstract

Introduction: HPV vaccine uptake in U.S. East African adolescents is low. We developed and evaluated a culturally targeted interactive educational intervention for East African immigrant mothers to increase HPV-vaccine-related knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to vaccinate adolescent children. Methods: Eligible mothers had ≥1 11-17-year-old child and reported all children’s HPV vaccination status as unvaccinated or unknown. The intervention was delivered via 10 dinners in the Seattle metropolitan area (8 with the Somali community, 2 with the Ethiopian community). Educational presentations and pre/post-tests on knowledge, attitudes, and vaccine intentions were conducted in the participants’ native language by a co-ethnic physician. We used McNemar’s test and generalized estimating equation models to evaluate pre/post differences in responses. Results: 120 mothers participated. Most (85%) were Somali and <40 years of age (58%). Median years of formal education was 8 (range 0-16), and 61% reported a household income <$25,000. Knowledge of HPV/HPV-vaccines was low pre intervention, with correct responses ranging from 3%-39% (61%-91% of responses were “not sure”); correct post-intervention responses ranged from 29%-97%. Pre-intervention, only 12% of mothers thought they had enough information to make a decision about vaccinating their child, compared to 90% post-intervention. Pre-intervention, only 16% of mothers reported that they were somewhat or very likely to vaccinate their child, compared to 83% post-intervention. All pre/post comparisons were statistically significantly different (p<.0001). Mothers were more likely to report correct HPV-related knowledge, positive vaccine attitudes and intentions after the intervention. Conclusions: Results illustrate that a culturally targeted educational intervention effectively increased East African mothers’ HPV-vaccine-related knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to vaccinate their adolescent children. Similar interventions could be fit to other priority populations with suboptimal HPV vaccine uptake.