The Influence of Family Socioeconomic Status on Health Care Professional Recommendations of the HPV Vaccine

Though it is one of the strongest predictors of vaccine initiation, few studies have examined the social correlates of health care professional (HCP) recommendations of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. This study employs a “fundamental causes” framework to examine whether family socioeconomic status is associated with parent reports of HPV vaccine uptake and HCP recommendation of the vaccine among female youth aged 12–17.

Using the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally representative sample of parents in the United States, this study documents a clear socioeconomic gradient in HCP recommendation of the HPV vaccine.

Results from a set of logistic regression models demonstrate that lower income families have significantly lower odds of vaccine initiation; however, the effect of household income is mediated by HCP recommendation. Further analyses reveal that lower income and poor families have reduced odds of receiving a HCP recommendation even when other health care related factors such as insurance status, annual preventive care, and a usual source of care are controlled.

The findings suggest that low income and poor families are less likely to receive needed health information regarding the HPV vaccine, thereby reducing the likelihood of vaccine uptake.