The acceptability of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among women with physical disabilities.
Free HPV shots and simple referrals can save lives among women with physical disabilities.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers asked women with physical disabilities in Taiwan about HPV shots. They used a survey to learn who wanted the vaccine and why.
The team also checked if women had prior Pap smears. They wanted to see if past screening changed vaccine interest.
What they found
Only 3 in 100 women would pay for the HPV vaccine themselves. When told the shot would be free, 60 out of 100 said yes.
Women who had already had a Pap test were more willing to get the vaccine. Cost was the biggest barrier.
How this fits with other research
Pan (2007) found 5.4% of Taiwanese adults with ID reported sexual abuse. Both studies show people with disabilities face hidden sexual-health risks.
Tassé et al. (2013) interviewed homosexual adults with mild ID in the Netherlands. Nearly half had suffered abuse, echoing the need for protection that the HPV study supports.
Together the papers reveal a pattern: adults with disabilities often lack basic sexual-health services, from abuse screening to preventive vaccines.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with physical or intellectual disabilities, add HPV education to your health chats. Ask if they have had a Pap test and explain free vaccine programs. Link them to local clinics or public-health nurses. A five-minute conversation can cut future cancer risk.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The present paper aims to explore awareness and acceptability of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and to identify factors influencing HPV acceptability among women with physical disabilities in Taiwan. The study participants were 438 adult women with physical disabilities, aged 18-69 years. The participants were all officially registered as having physical disabilities in Taipei County, Taiwan, in March 2009. The major findings were that 54.5% of the participants had previously heard about the HPV vaccine and that vaccine acceptability was very low (3.2%) if the participants would have had to pay for the vaccine but would increase to 60% if the government were to provide the vaccine for free. We found that those participants who had had a Pap smear test within the past 1 year or 3 years were significantly more likely to be aware of and willing to receive the HPV vaccine than those who had not. To increase the HPV vaccination rate among women with physical disabilities, the study suggests that the current health care system in Taiwan should consider implementing free immunization for this group of women.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.04.006