Misconceptions and knowledge gaps about HPV, cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination among Central American immigrant parents in the United States

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers globally, yet it remains a significant health issue, primarily due to persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Ethnic minority and immigrant populations experience notable gaps in knowledge about HPV, the HPV vaccine, and its link to cervical cancer. This study assessed awareness and understanding of HPV, the HPV vaccine, and its connection to cervical cancer among Central American immigrant parents in the United States. A qualitative, exploratory study used in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Both inductive and deductive thematic analyses were conducted with MAXQDA software to identify key themes related to participants’ awareness of HPV, the vaccine, and its link to cervical cancer. Fifty-six parents (33 mothers, 23 fathers; mean age = 42.7 years), nearly all foreign-born (92.8%) from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (average 17.3 years of U.S. residency), participated in the study. Only 26.8% (n = 15) demonstrated clear awareness of cervical cancer. Overall knowledge was limited, particularly regarding diagnosis and the role of HPV in cancer development. Furthermore, understanding of the HPV vaccine’s role in prevention was minimal, with many unaware of its ability to reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer. Findings reveal significant knowledge gaps and misconceptions about HPV, cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions to improve understanding and increase vaccination rates in immigrant and ethnic minority communities. Efforts should focus on improving understanding of cervical cancer detection, HPV’s role in cancer development, and the vaccine’s effectiveness in prevention.

Keywords

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge
• HPV vaccine
• cervical cancer
• immigrant
• parents
• Latino