Browsing by Subject "Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Communication: Perspectives of 11–12 Year-Old Girls, Mothers, and Clinicians
    (Elsevier, 2013) Kowalczyk Mullins, Tanya L.; Griffioen, Anne M.; Glynn, Susan; Zimet, Gregory D.; Rosenthal, Susan L.; Fortenberry, J. Dennis; Kahn, Jessica A.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Objectives: Because little is known about the content of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine-related discussions with young adolescent girls in clinical settings, we explored communication between 11- and 12 year-old girls, mothers, and clinicians regarding HPV vaccines and concordance in reports of maternal and clinician communication. Methods: We conducted individual interviews with 33 girls who had received the quadrivalent HPV vaccine in urban and suburban clinical settings, their mothers, and their clinicians. Data were analyzed using qualitative methods. Results: From the perspectives of both girls and mothers, clinicians and parents were the preferred sources of HPV vaccine information for girls. Vaccine efficacy and risks/benefits of vaccination were the most commonly reported desired and actual topics of discussion by mothers, girls, and clinicians. Clinician recommendation of vaccination was reported by nearly one-fifth of girls and nearly half of mothers. The most common concordant messages were related to efficacy of the vaccine, with concordance in 70% of triads. The most common discordant messages were related to sexual health. Approximately half of clinicians (16) reported discussing sexual health, but only 5 mothers (15%) and 4 girls (12%) reported this. Triads recruited from suburban (vs. urban) practices had higher degrees of concordance in reported vaccination communication. Conclusions: HPV vaccine efficacy and safety are important topics for clinicians to discuss with both girls and mothers; educating mothers is important because parents are a preferred source of vaccine-related information for girls. Because girls may be missing important vaccine-related messages, they should be encouraged to actively engage in vaccine discussions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Human papillomavirus vaccine-related risk perceptions and subsequent sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections among vaccinated adolescent women
    (Elsevier, 2016-07-25) Kowalczyk Mullins, Tanya L.; Zimet, Gregory D.; Rosenthal, Susan L.; Morrow, Charlene; Ding, Lili; Huang, Bin; Kahn, Jessica A.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between risk perceptions after human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis over 30months following vaccination. METHODS: Participants included 112 sexually experienced girls aged 13-21years who were enrolled at the time of first HPV vaccination and completed ⩾2 of 4 follow-up visits at 2, 6, 18, 30months and including 30months. At each visit, participants completed surveys assessing risk perceptions (perceived need for safer sexual behaviors, perceived risk of STIs other than HPV) and sexual behaviors. STI testing was done at 6, 18, and 30months. Outcomes were condom use at last intercourse with main male partner, number of sexual partners since last study visit, and STI diagnosis. Associations between risk perceptions and sexual behaviors/STIs were examined using generalized linear mixed models. RESULTS: Mean age was 17.9years; 88% were Black; 49% had a history of STI at baseline. Scale scores for perceived need for safer sexual behaviors did not change significantly over time. Scale scores for perceived risk of STIs other than HPV significantly changed (p=0.027), indicating that girls perceived themselves to be more at risk of STIs other than HPV over 30months following vaccination. Multivariable models demonstrated that greater perceived need for safer sexual behaviors following vaccination was associated with condom use (p=0.002) but not with number of partners or STI diagnosis. Perceived risk of STIs other than HPV was not associated with the three outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that perceived risk for STIs other than HPV was not associated with subsequent sexual behaviors or STI diagnosis is reassuring. The association between perceived need for safer sexual behaviors and subsequent condom use suggests that the HPV vaccination visit is an important opportunity to reiterate the importance of safer sexual behaviors to sexually experienced girls.