[Factors associated with HPV immunization for 13-14-year-old girls in the Geneva district, Switzerland]

Abstract

Background: School vaccination programs against human papilloma virus (HPV) have been implemented in most Western countries. Only a few studies have investigated socio-economic factors related to school-based vaccination.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the vaccination cards of 1158 randomized girls aged 13 to 14 years enrolled in the public schools of the canton of Geneva. Several other socio-economic variables (nationality, socio-professional category and marital status of the parents) were collected.

Results: Immunization coverage for three doses of HPV vaccine was 56%. After having controlled the covariates, Portuguese adolescents (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 4.18 [1.76-9.92]), adolescents whose mothers were workers (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 1.91 [1.38-2.65]) or married (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 1.44 [1.06-1.98]) showed significantly higher immunization rates than Swiss adolescents or those whose mothers' socio-professional category was senior manager or executive.

Conclusion: This study shows that the HPV vaccine coverage is not yet optimal in Geneva and varies significantly according to the socio-economic status, thus better promotion of HPV vaccination for certain target groups must be implemented.

Keywords: Adolescent; HPV; Immunization; Santé scolaire; School health; Vaccination.