Description
Purpose: To determine if reminder calls and immunization prompts by physicians, defined as prompts for prevention, is associated with >1st dose HPV vaccination among 11- 17 year old females in San Diego County. Methods: 407 individuals reported immunization information through a random digit dialing (RDD) survey conducted by the San Diego Immunization Branch (SDIB). To determine the association between prompts for prevention and HPV vaccine uptake, SAS 9.2 was used for analysis. The association between race and education level with HPV vaccine uptake were investigated as well. Results: Analysis of the RDD survey revealed 33% of the 11-17 year old females being vaccinated with > 1st dose of the HPV vaccine. The proportion of 11-17 year olds who received high prompt services was 13.5%, followed by 21.4% receiving medium prompt services, and most experienced low services (65.1%). Prompt services were not significantly associated with HPV vaccine uptake. However, race and education level did reveal an association with our outcome (p<0.05). Hispanics were nearly twice more likely than whites to have their child vaccinated from HPV. Mothers with at most a high school education were more likely to have their child vaccinated than those with more than a high school education. Relationship to the child also showed a moderate significance to HPV vaccine uptake (p=0.05). Conclusions: There is no difference in prompt services between those that initiated the first dose HPV vaccine and those that did not. Although prompts did not appear to play a strong role in initiation of at least the first dose, further assessments and studies should be performed due to the lack of research in this area. Information is available on clinician endorsement of the HPV vaccine, STD counseling, and vaccine education towards parents. However, alternate strategies to increase vaccination coverage of adolescents should continue. Also, as race and education level appear to be associated with acceptance of the HPV vaccine, resources should be put in place to explain these findings in order to increase HPV vaccine uptake in the recommended age groups.
