Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2024
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Volume
21
Issue
1
DOI of Original Publication
https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2024.2425142
Date of Submission
September 2025
Abstract
The HPV vaccine has the potential to prevent nearly 92% of HPV-related cancer cases, yet its uptake remains suboptimal. While well-documented barriers to HPV vaccine uptake include inadequate knowledge and lack of provider recommendation, religious preferences have emerged as another crucial factor influencing vaccination decisions. This study examined the interrelatedness of religion, beliefs, and HPV vaccination uptake among children among Catholic, Evangelical, and Mainline Protestant parents. A nationally representative survey was conducted among 1,068 U.S. parents from one of three major Christian denominations: Catholic, Evangelical, or Mainline Protestant. We examined the extent to which demographic factors, constructs from the Health Belief Model (perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action), and faith-based support variables contributed to HPV vaccination decisions among parents from the specified religious denominations. Among the surveyed parents, 72.3% indicated that their child had received the HPV vaccine, revealing a substantial but incomplete uptake rate. Notably, no statistically significant differences were observed in vaccination rates across the three denominational groups. Perceived HPV vaccine benefits (p < .001), perceived barriers (p < .001) and perceived self-efficacy (p = .013) were strongly associated. Parents reporting that their child’s healthcare provider asked them about the vaccine (p < .001) and those more receptive to faith-based support for HPV vaccination (p = .049) were more likely to report child HPV vaccine uptake. To enhance HPV vaccine uptake among the examined religious denominations, strengthening provider-parent communication regarding the HPV vaccine and fostering partnerships between healthcare providers and supportive religious congregations can serve as powerful levers for promoting vaccination acceptance and compliance.
Rights
© 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
Recommended Citation
Xiaohe Sun, Tyler Sun, Sharlane C. L. Lau, Allison McArthur, Ishani Nath & Gilla K. Shapiro. (2025) A content analysis of religion and HPV vaccine news coverage in Canada. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 21:1.
Is Part Of
VCU Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach Publication