From Google Scholar & other sources: Selected Journal Articles, Newsletters, Dissertations, Theses, Commentary

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Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention
doi: 10.1158/1538-7755.DISP15-B90
March 2016 25; B90
Abstract B90: Predictors of HPV vaccine initiation and completion among Hispanic mothers of 11-17 year old daughters living along the Texas-Mexico border
DY Morales-Campos, DA Parra-Medina –
Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer incidence and mortality are higher for Hispanic women along the Texas-Mexico border than for other female population groups. Incidence could be reduced if teenaged Hispanic girls received the HPV vaccine before they became sexually active. However, few Hispanic girls compared to U.S. girls receive all three HPV vaccine doses (31% vs 36%), which prevent cervical cancer. Mothers are crucial to the success of HPV vaccine uptake efforts, but few studies have examined predictors of vaccine initiation and completion. The purpose of this study is to assess predictors (socio-demographics, HPV and vaccine knowledge, and vaccine self-efficacy) of vaccine initiation and completion.
Methods: We utilized baseline data from an outreach and education program utilizing promotoras and peer educators to deliver health education to mothers and daughters to increase HPV knowledge and promote HPV immunization. Our analyses utilized data from mothers of never vaccinated girls (n=371) to examine the association between the predictors and vaccine initiation and completion. To control for potential confounders, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses.
Results: Findings showed both health insurance (Initiators AOR: 0.27; 95% CI= .09, .79; Completers AOR: 0.29; 95% CI= .10, .83) and program status (Initiators AOR: 3.04; 95% CI= 1.76, 5.26; Completers AOR: 2.21; 95% CI= 1.27, 3.58) were associated with HPV vaccine initiation and completion among mothers. Results also showed preferred language (AOR: 0.15; 95% CI= .04, .53) and health status (AOR: 0.52; 95% CI= .29, .92) were associated with series initiation.
Conclusions: Findings suggest mothers who spoke English, had health insurance, and reported having good health were at lower odds of vaccine initiation. Also, mothers with health insurance also had lower odds of series completion. Mothers who participated in the program compared to the brochure only group were more likely to initiate and complete the vaccine series. These findings assist in identifying appropriate intervention strategies to enhance vaccine initiation in border communities at risk for cervical cancer.

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Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention
doi: 10.1158/1538-7755.DISP15-A51
March 2016 25; A51
Abstract A51: Racial and gender disparities in knowledge and awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine in a national sample of US adults
EA Boakye, BB Tobo, N Osazuwa-Peters
Abstract
Background: Nearly 80 million people in the U.S. are currently infected with at least one of two strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is associated with 70% of cervical, and more than 90% of oropharyngeal, cancers. Racial/ethnic disparities in cervical cancer are pervasive, with non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women experiencing disproportionately higher incidence and mortality rates than other racial or ethnic groups. Further, although it has been almost 10 years since the approval of the first of three HPV vaccines for boys and girls, disparities in knowledge and awareness about HPV and the HPV vaccine persist, and vaccination rates are suboptimal. The goal of this study was to assess racial/ethnic and gender disparities in the knowledge and awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine among US adults.
Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from the Health Information National Trends Survey Cycles 3 and 4 (HINTS; N=6,862). Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess racial/ethnic and gender disparities in HPV knowledge and HPV vaccination awareness.
Results: Sixty-six percent of Americans had heard of HPV and the HPV vaccine; and seventy percent knew that HPV causes cervical cancer. However, we found racial/ethnic and gender disparities in knowledge and awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine. In multivariate analyses, females were 3.28 times (95% CI: 2.62 – 4.09) more likely to have heard of HPV, and 3.86 times (95% CI: 3.11 – 4.79) more likely to have heard of the HPV vaccine compared to males. Non-Hispanic Blacks were 33% (95% CI: 0.47 – 0.96) and 44% (95% CI: 0.39 – 0.81) less likely than non -Hispanic Whites to have heard of HPV and the HPV vaccine, respectively. There was no significant difference between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites regarding HPV knowledge; however, Hispanics were 53% (95% CI: 0.34 – 0.64) less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to have heard of the HPV vaccine. Females were more likely than males to know that HPV causes cervical cancer (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.13 – 1.96). Non-Hispanic Blacks were 48% (95% CI: 0.35 – 0.76) less likely to know that HPV causes cervical cancer compared to non-Hispanic Whites. However, there was no statistically significant difference between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites regarding awareness that HPV causes cervical cancer. Forty-six percent of Americans were aware that HPV often clears on its own without treatment.
Conclusions: Non-Hispanic Blacks and males suffer the greatest disparities associated with knowledge and awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine. Increasing awareness about the HPV vaccine may help improve vaccination uptake, especially among males and minority populations. Thus, future interventions targeting males and minority populations, for whom knowledge gaps currently exist, are needed. There is also a need to improve physician-patient communications to maximize physician discussion of the HPV vaccine with patients and parents of children eligible for the HPV vaccine.

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Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention
doi: 10.1158/1538-7755.DISP15-B58
March 2016 25; B58
Abstract B58: Assessing university students’ sexual risk behavior, knowledge of the human papillomavirus,(HPV), HPV vaccine, and association between HPV and …
N Osazuwa-Peters, KM Christopher, C Geneus
Abstract
Background/Objectives: There has been a 225% increase in the incidence of oropharyngeal cancer, a sub-site of head and neck cancer, in the United States in the last three decades. This massive increase is largely associated with HPV, a sexually transmitted infection that peaks in prevalence among adolescents and young adults of college age. This study aimed at assessing sexual risk-taking behavior among university students, analyzing predictors of HPV vaccine initiation, as well as assessing levels of knowledge of the association between HPV and head and neck cancer.
Methods: An anonymous online cross-sectional survey was distributed to 921 university students between the ages of 19-26 years. The survey elicited sociodemographic characteristics, HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge, and barriers and facilitators for vaccine initiation and completion.
Results: Seven-hundred and forty-six students completed the survey; primarily female (68%), White (78%), and non-smokers (96%). Among participants, 61.7% have had vaginal sex and 70.7% oral sex. A greater number of participants have had multiple (4 or more) oral sexual partners than vaginal sexual partners (25.5% vs. 20.3%). Average age at first vaginal and oral sex onset were similar (18.41 vs. 17.80 years). Almost half of participants (49%) had completed all 3-doses of the HPV vaccine, and 60% had received at least one dose. Only 38% had a high knowledge of association between HPV and head and neck cancer.
After adjusting for covariables, it was found that HPV knowledge was the main predictor of HPV vaccine initiation. Those with a higher level of knowledge of HPV were more likely to have initiated the vaccine (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.08). Additionally, there were decreased odds of initiating HPV vaccine as age increased (aOR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.90); and participant single or dating (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.12-2.65) and not currently dating (aOR 1.91, 95% CI 1.22-2.99) had higher odds of initiating the vaccine than those in committed relationships, including marriage.
Race was a significant predictor of knowledge of association between HPV and head and neck cancer. Non-White students were 2.25 times (95% CI: 1.14 – 4.45) more likely to have low knowledge compared to White students.
Conclusions: Sexual risk-taking behavior associated with HPV infection is high among university students, while knowledge of the association between HPV and head and neck cancer is low. These findings provide impetus for developing specifically targeted interventions that serve to increase head and neck cancer knowledge, improve HPV vaccine education and uptake, and mitigate sexual risk-taking behaviors among college-aged students.