HPV Vaccine Rates Depend on Race, Income; New Study Finds it's Highest in Poor, Latino Communities

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HPV infections are the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. This condition can cause several types of cancer including anal, vaginal, vulvar, oropharyngeal and cervical cancer. For this reason, children both boys and girls are encouraged to get HPV vaccines.

However, it seemed that HPV vaccines are more recognized in high poverty Hispanic communities compared to low poverty non-Hispanic communities. A new study suggested that HPV vaccine uptakes are highest in poor Latino communities, The Guardian has learned.

The HPV vaccination rate was higher among black people, American Indian/Alaska native and Latinos compared with Caucasian and Asian people. Moreover, it was found out that girls from families living below the poverty line have started taking the vaccination more frequently than women above the poverty line.

The new study that was released on Thursday was a huge surprise to many. It depicted a sharp turn in public health trends. In most cases, underserved communities have limited access to health care and rarely take up public health initiatives like preventive screenings and immunizations. However, the new study showed otherwise.

Per the American Association for Cancer Research's report, in high poverty communities, 61.1 percent of girls were given the first shot in the series compared to 52.4 percent in low poverty areas. The study was the first to look at geography in relation to HPV vaccination rates.

"You're finding everything is inverse essentially," said Kevin Henry, lead author of the study. "You're finding that the wealthier people have less vaccination yet they have more resources so in some respects they should be higher."

Cervical cancer is more prevalent among Hispanic women than any other race. However, Henry stressed that this does not explain the disparity in HPV vaccine rate because both groups whether Hispanic or not get cervical cancer.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jane Delgado, president of the nonprofit National Alliance for Hispanic Health, was excited by the results. Her group organizes local HPV vaccination efforts with materials and publications.

"When we did focus groups with mothers the mythology was 'Oh Hispanic parents, they don't want to think of their daughters having sex,' but you know what, Hispanic parents want to protect their girls from cancer," she said.

As for the disparity in the HPV vaccine rate, Delgado suggested that it was because Latin American countries have nationalized health care. Latinos are more open-minded and accepting when it comes to vaccines.

The same study found out that girls from high-poverty non-Hispanic black communities have lower HPV vaccination rates than Hispanics. Henry stated that additional research is needed to explain the differences, Science Daily has learned.

Meanwhile, Delgado and Henry stressed that the HPV vaccination rates remain low compared to what health workers aim for.

The new study is published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.