Theoretical, Cultural, and Perceptual Correlates of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Acceptance (HPV-VA) and Vaccine Uptake (HPV-VU) in a Hispanic Community

Survey questions explored theoretical perceptual, and cultural factors that were hypothesized to be associated with HPV-Vaccine Acceptance (HPV-VA) and HPV-Vaccine Uptake (HPV-VU) among the predominately Hispanic population in this region. The purpose of the current study was to examine theoretical (i.e., the Health Belief Model), perceptual (e.g., trust and recommendations from an HCP), and cultural (e.g., language, household size, familism, and religiosity) influences of HPV-VA and HPV-VU in predominately Hispanic community.

We hypothesize that theoretical, perceptual, and cultural factors will be associated with HPV-VA and HPV-VU. Specifically, perceived effectiveness, perceived safety, and perceived severity will be positively associated with HPV-VA and HPV-VU; in contrast, perceived harm will be inversely associated with HPV-VA and HPV-VU. We also predicted that one’s family’s attitudes about vaccines would be positively associated with one’s own attitudes about vaccines.