Culturally Targeted Health Communication and Receptivity to the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Among Parents in Flint, MI

Cervical cancer incidence and mortality are higher for African American women than for White women. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is the most effective strategy for reducing risk for cervical cancer. However, African American girls are less likely to have completed the HPV vaccine series than White girls. The present research will evaluate a culturally targeted approach to health messaging about the HPV vaccine for parents with vaccine-eligible daughters. The central hypothesis is that African American parents will have greater receptivity to the HPV vaccine after receiving culturally targeted messaging compared to parents who receive no messaging or education-only messaging about HPV vaccination. The primary aims are: 1) evaluate effects of HPV vaccine education on White and African American parents' receptivity to the HPV vaccine, and whether culturally targeted messaging enhances HPV vaccine receptivity among African American parents, 2) compare effects of education-only versus culturally targeted messaging on activation of racism-related thinking when considering child HPV vaccination, and 3) examine the effects of racism-related medical mistrust on the effectiveness of culturally targeted messaging. General and culturally targeted messaging about the HPV vaccine were developed in collaboration with community members and a local health educator. Participants will report their intentions to vaccinate their daughter against HPV immediately after viewing health messaging, as well as initiation of the HPV vaccine series for their daughter 6-months post-messaging.

Inclusion criteria

• Identify as Black/African American or White/Caucasian
• Have at least one daughter who is between 8-17 years of age, who is not currently pregnant, and who has not received any doses of the HPV vaccine

Exclusion criteria

• N/A