ABSTRACT
Background: In 2019, the CDC expanded their recommendations for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination beyond age 26 years to include shared clinical decision-making (SCDM) among adults aged 27-45 years ("mid-adults"). The purpose of this study was to describe HPV vaccination status among mid-adult women before the implementation of SCDM for HPV vaccination. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during 2016-2019 in Connecticut, United States, and enrolled women born in 1981 or later (birth cohorts eligible for HPV vaccination). This analysis was restricted to participants aged 27 years and older at the time of the survey. Correlates of vaccination status, sources of vaccine information, and reasons for not receiving the vaccine were examined. Results: Among 298 participants, 64.4% had not received HPV vaccine. Other than age (younger age was associated with being vaccinated), no other demographic or behavioral correlates were associated with vaccination. Compared with unvaccinated women, vaccinated women were more likely to have heard about the HPV vaccine from a doctor (odds ratio [OR] = 3.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.00-5.88) and less likely to have heard about it from television (OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.13-0.41). The main reasons for not being vaccinated were "vaccine not offered" (48%) and "too old" (40%). Conclusions: A majority of mid-adult women in this study were not previously vaccinated against HPV, signaling the large opportunity for SCDM with this population. This may be facilitated by ensuring health care providers and mid-adult women know about the availability and potential benefits of HPV vaccination to inform decision making.
