Obstetrics & Gynecology
May 2016
doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000483332.97659.57
Do Educational Seminars for the HPV Vaccine Improve Attitudes Toward and Likelihood of Vaccination?[12B].
Foster, Leah N. MD; Roussos-Ross, Kay MD; DeCesare, Julie Z. MD; McAlpin, Lindsey M. MD
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In the United States, there are approximately 12,360 cases of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed annually resulting in 4,020 deaths each year. Human papillomavirus is the known cause for the majority of all cervical cancers. The FDA and CDC have approved vaccination for the prevention of HPV. Since the approval of HPV vaccines only 33 percent of eligible females and 10 percent of eligible males have been vaccinated. The goal of this study is to investigate the barriers to HPV vaccination for eligible recipients and to determine whether an educational intervention regarding HPV vaccination results in improved attitudes and likelihood of vaccination. The study is being performed in conjunction with the ACOG District XII Health Care for Underserved Women Committee.
METHODS: We conducted a community outreach educational seminar to evaluate participants’ baseline knowledge regarding HPV, the HPV vaccine, and opinions about vaccination. Each participant was asked to complete a survey on HPV upon arrival. We then executed a brief educational seminar about HPV. Following completion of the educational session, the study participants again completed the survey.
RESULTS: Data analyzed with Fisher Exact Test noted a statistically significant improvement in knowledge of HPV related facts and willingness to accept the HPV vaccine following the educational seminar, P<.01.
CONCLUSION: Educational seminars show a clear benefit increasing education and awareness regarding the purpose and benefits of the HPV vaccine. Providing addition educational opportunities of eligible recipients and their guardians may provide higher vaccination rates, and thereby lower cervical cancer rates in the future.

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HPV Vaccination Does Not Provide Herd Immunity for Unvaccinated Women or Cross-Protection for Nonvaccine HPV Types [12].
Tarney, Christopher MD; Pagan, Megan MD; Klaric, John PhD; Beltran, Thomas; Han, Jasmine MD
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: To determine if the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination offers cross-protection against nonvaccine HPV types and whether introduction of the vaccination has offered herd immunity to unvaccinated women.
METHODS: We collected and analyzed HPV prevalence data for females aged 18-29 from the prevaccine era (2007-2008) and postvaccine era (2009-2012) using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES); 1628 female respondents aged 18-29, representing 21,135,134 females in the United States non-institutionalized civilian population, provided vaginal swabs across three consecutive NHANES survey cycles.
RESULTS: Among females aged 18-29, the prevalence of high risk HPV among women who received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine decreased from 67% (95% confidence interval [CI] 50.7-81.4) in 2007-2008 to 41.5% (95% CI, 30.5-53.1) in 2011-2012; among the women vaccinated for HPV in the postvaccine era, the prevalence of HPV-16 and -18 was 6.4% versus 93.6% for all other high risk HPV types. There was no difference in prevalence in high risk HPV for women who did not receive the vaccine; 49.5% (95% CI, 42.5-56.6) in 2007-2008 versus 50.8% (95% CI, 43.0-58.7) in 2011-2012.
CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS: The prevalence of high risk HPV significantly decreased among females aged 18-29 years who received the HPV vaccine, but there appeared to be no cross-protection against nonvaccine HPV types. These findings may offer support for usage of the investigational 9-valent HPV vaccine. There also was no evidence to suggest protection against HPV infection for unvaccinated women.