Most Would Accept Cervical Cancer Vaccine

Women in Study Also Approve of Drug for Children

A majority of women would be willing to receive a cervical cancer vaccine once one became available and would allow it to be administered to their children, according to a recent study.

The study, which involved surveys of 200 Houston-area women, was conducted because a vaccine for cervical cancer is expected to become available within the next 10 years, says Diane Bodurka, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at M. D. Anderson. Bodurka was lead investigator on the study, which was conducted through M. D. Anderson and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Vaccine targets human papillomavirus

Presented in March at the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists' 36th Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer, the study is the first to examine women's perceptions of a vaccine for both girls and boys.

It is recommended that both sexes receive the vaccination before sexual activity begins to prevent the spread of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer. A vaccine is being designed to prevent cervical cancer by preventing the development of HPV.

The majority of women surveyed supported vaccination for themselves and their children.

What women said in the survey:

• 76% would accept a vaccine for themselves
• 67% would consent to have their daughter vaccinated
• 64% would consent to have their son vaccinated

Some participants reject vaccine

The survey also explained why the minority of participants might reject the vaccine.

Reasons women rejected the vaccine for themselves:

• Unknown side effects
• Not currently sexually active

Reasons women rejected the vaccine for their children:

• Unknown side effects
• The belief that minors are not sexually active
• The belief that there is no direct benefit to boys

Vaccine would prompt sex education

The vaccine would need to be administered to children prior to their first sexual experience. It was found through the survey that 11 was the average age noted by participants as an appropriate time to provide children with sex education. In the survey, however, 23% of women who weren't willing to vaccinate their children stated that they didn't want their child to participate in sex education.

"This study shows that education will be key to acceptance of the vaccine," Bodurka says. "Given that the vaccine may be available in the next 5-10 years, we need to begin educating parents, especially mothers, now about how the vaccine will be crucial to the prevention of cervical cancer. It also is important for everyone to understand that a vaccine will be aimed at both boys and girls, and how this will help prevent the disease worldwide."

Factors influencing a woman's acceptance of the vaccine included their acceptance of the vaccine for themselves. Neither demographic considerations, such as income, religion, race and education, nor a history of an abnormal Pap test were found to alter potential acceptance of the vaccine.