Actual vs Preferred Sources of Human Papillomavirus Information Among Black, White, and Hispanic Parents

Abstract

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is widely recognized as the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States.^1,2 In June 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration approved an HPV vaccine for use among 9- to 26-year-old females.³ In recent years, there has been a surge in direct advertising about HPV and the HPV vaccine. In response, parents (who hold the primary responsibility of decision making for their children's health) have expressed the need for reliable HPV information.⁴ The purpose of this investigation was to examine the most common sources of HPV information among parents and to compare preferred with actual HPV information sources.