Analyses of data from the 2006 through 2008 National Survey of Family Growth, to which questions on the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine were added in 2007 (after the vaccine became widely available), showed that a significantly higher percentage of teens 15 to 19 years of age (30%) received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine than did women 20 to 24 years of age (16%). In both groups, those with insurance were more likely to receive the vaccine: 32% of insured respondents versus 12% of uninsured respondents in the younger group and 20% versus 4%, respectively, in the older group.

Among respondents 15 to 19 years of age, race or ethnicity, education, and poverty were not related to vaccination. Similarly, there was no correlation between receiving the vaccine and having had vaginal sex, having received services for a sexually transmitted disease (STD), or having had a Papanicolaou test in the previous year. There was, however, a relationship between condom use and vaccination: among those who reported always or sometimes using condoms, 39% were vaccinated; among those who reported never using condoms, the vaccination rate was only 18%.

Among respondents 20 to 24 years of age, white women were more likely to receive the vaccine than black women. No correlation was noted between HPV vaccination and having had sex, having received services for an STD, or having had a Papanicolaou test in the previous year. In contrast to the younger group, there was no association between vaccine receipt and condom use.

The authors believe that visits to health care providers concerning sexual and reproductive health are likely not being used to provide the HPV vaccine but think such visits are a good opportunity for vaccination and that this notion should be explored further. And although these early data show no relationship between vaccination and the initiation or an increased frequency of sexual activity or more sexually risky behavior, they believe further data will help reveal trends.-SDSJ

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