Risk Factors Affect Parent Attitudes About STD Vaccinations

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Risk Factors Affect Parents' Attitudes About STD Vaccinations

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 7 (AScribe Newswire) -- The severity of possible
infection and the effectiveness of a vaccine weighed heavily in the
decision-making process for parents reporting their views on childhood
vaccination for sexually transmitted diseases.

The analysis of 278 parental views on STD vaccination for children
was reported in the Feb.7 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine by researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine.

In an ongoing series of studies, lead author Gregory D. Zimet, Ph.D.,
professor of pediatrics and clinical psychology, and his colleagues are
evaluating parental attitudes toward adolescent vaccination for STDs in
anticipation of availability of vaccines that are currently in various
stages of development.

"Health professionals have expressed concern that many parents will
be resistant for a variety of reasons to vaccinating children or adolescents
for sexually transmitted diseases," said Dr. Zimet. "Our research is
proactive and we hope to provide physicians with an understanding of the
issues parents may have about STD vaccines by the time they are on the
market."

The participants, who were parents or guardians accompanying a child
between the ages of 12 and 17 years to a pediatric clinic visit, completed a
survey to test their reaction to nine hypothetical vaccine scenarios.
Variables included the mode of transmission (sexually transmitted or not
sexually transmitted); severity of infection (curable with antibiotics,
chronic and incurable, or usually fatal); vaccine effectiveness (50 percent,
70 percent or 90 percent); and availability of behavioral methods for
prevention (yes or no).

The scenarios mixed the variables to present a clear picture of
preferences and concerns about STD vaccination.

Parents expressed little difference in their willingness to accept a
vaccine whether it was for an STD or an infection that is not sexually
transmitted. However, parents showed a preference in the scenarios for
vaccines:

- that prevented a potentially fatal infection

- were 90 percent effective

- provided protection for an infection that could not be avoided
through behavioral modification. "The most surprising result was that
parents did not distinguish between STD and non-STD vaccines, but were
equally favorable in their assessments regardless of the sexually
transmissibility of the infection," said Dr. Zimet.

The results are relatively consistent with preliminary research
indicating that most parents are focused on protecting their children's
health and not as concerned with the source of infection, he said.

Only 6 percent of the parents expressed an aversion toward STD
vaccines in general. Dr. Zimet said future studies will focus more
specifically on this group of parents to better understand the source of
their reluctance.

The study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

CONTACT: Mary Hardin, Indiana University School of Medicine,
317-274-7722, mhardin@iupui.edu

Media Contact: Mary Hardin, 317-274-7722, mhardin@iupui.edu

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