Receipt of the human papillomavirus vaccine among female college students in the United States, 2009

Abstract

Objective: To determine receipt of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among female college students by demographic/descriptive characteristics and sexual behaviors.

Methods: A secondary analysis of the Spring 2009 National College Health Assessment-II was conducted with 40,610 female college students (aged 18 to 24 years) attending 4-year institutions in the United States.

Results: Less than half (45.0%) the respondents had received the HPV vaccine. Students who were younger, white, noninternational, and sorority members, had health insurance, attended a college/university in the northeastern United States, did not have or did not live with a partner, participated in sports, ever had vaginal intercourse, had male sex partner(s) (past year), and had a gynecological examination (past year) were more likely to have received the vaccine.

Conclusions: To allow for appropriate intervention, additional research should investigate why certain female college students have not obtained the HPV vaccine. Efforts should be made to link college women without health insurance to no- or low-cost HPV vaccine.