Term of Award

Spring 2015

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Committee Chair

Gulzar H. Shah, PhD, Mstat, MS

Committee Member 1

Claire Robb, PhD, MPH

Committee Member 2

Jeffrey Jones, PhD

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research study was to examine the variation in healthcare providers’ behavior in recommending the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to young male adolescents (aged 11-12), middle male adolescents (aged 13-17) and late male adolescents (aged 18-26) in rural Southwest Georgia counties. This research also aimed to identify factors associated with providers’ behaviors concerning HPV vaccination recommendation to youth in various age groups.

Methods: Upon IRB approval, secondary data were obtained from Albany Area Primary Care for a paper-based survey that was conducted in 2014 using a representative random sample of family physicians (n=12), pediatricians (n=6), and nurse practitioners (n=33). The survey had a response rate of 76% and the researcher employed descriptive statistics, paired t tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to describe the pediatricians’ (Peds), nurse practitioners’ (NPs/Nurses), and family physicians’ (FPs) recommendations to HPV vaccinations and the association of HPV prevalence in Rural Southwest GA.

Results: Statistical testing and analysis show barriers such as healthcare providers’ and parents’ discomfort with the vaccination of pre-teens when it concerns a sexually transmitted disease, lack of awareness to the role that males play in the spread of HPV, absence of government mandates, and non-completion of the three-dose series of vaccination due to financial or logistical reasons. Provider specialty, age, ethnicity, and reported barriers were significantly associated with recommendations and association to HPV prevalence.

Conclusions: Findings suggest missed HPV vaccination opportunities for adolescent males. Perceived barriers and support to HPV vaccination to providers may drive decisions about HPV vaccine uptake and completion of vaccination series. Findings also suggest the need for policy level interventions to increase HPV vaccination among US adolescent males.

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