Determinants of HPV Vaccination Uptake Among Adolescent Males in Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers in the Seattle Area

Abstract

Purpose: To determine facilitators and barriers in Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination uptake among adolescent males in Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs) in the Seattle area. Study Design: A qualitative study utilizing the Health Belief model conducted through individual interviews of parents, and providers, of 11-17 year old males in FQHCs in the Seattle area. Methods: The study involved semi-structured individual interviews with 6 parents/guardians and 3 healthcare providers of 11-17 year old adolescent boys in a FQHC setting. The questions were aimed at determining the facilitators and barriers in the uptake of HPV vaccination in this particular population from the perspective of both the parents/guardians and the providers. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for coding. The coded data was analyzed to determine common themes among parents and providers separately. Results: Several emergent themes related to HPV vaccine uptake were identified from the analyzed data from parent and provider interviews. The resulting themes included both barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccine uptake among 11-17 years old boys in FQHCs in the Seattle area. The themes involved parents, providers, healthcare system and health policy. Recommendation In the absence of a mandate for HPV vaccine as a requirement for school entry, lack of parental awareness and blind faith in providers by parents in FQHCs in the Seattle area, we suggest a strong providers’ recommendation as a mean for improving HPV vaccination uptake in this particular population. We recommend a multifaceted intervention that involves providers/staff training to effectively deliver strong recommendation for HPV vaccination to parents and a reminder system to help providers/staff deliver that recommendation urgently and consistently to 11-12 years old boys.