Mother Daughter Communication and HPV Vaccine

College women were more likely to be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) if their mothers communicated with them about sex, and if they thought their mothers would approve of their getting vaccinated, according to the study, “Mother-Daughter Communication and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake by College Students,” in the May issue of Pediatrics (published online April 12). The study found that of 972 female undergraduates surveyed, 49 percent had received at least the first of the three-shot HPV vaccine series. Those who were unvaccinated were more likely to be interested in future vaccination if they thought their mothers would approve. The young women’s perceptions of their risk of contracting HPV also contributed to their interest in getting vaccinated. Young women whose mothers had discussed values in relation to sex were, as a group, less interested in being vaccinated. Authors concluded that mother-daughter communication and approval of vaccination emerged as important predictors of young women’s HPV-vaccination behavior and intentions, even after the women were old enough to not require parental approval.

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