HPV: the human papillomavirus. Cancer-causing, the most commonly spread sexually transmitted infection, greatly preventable by vaccination since 2006 (US FDA, 2006). Still, vaccination rates among U.S. children remain low – especially in the state of Kansas. In 2013, Kansas tied for last in children HPV vaccination rates (Hart, 2015). The vaccination rates, compared to other U.S. states have not improved much in the years since.
As parents and guardians are often charged with taking care of their children’s health, their perspectives about HPV and the HPV vaccine likely influence children’s HPV vaccination rates. However, considering the rise of social media’s popularity in use (including for the purpose of talking about health issues), and the influence of anti-vaccination messages, it is also likely that social media messages have an influence on how parents view HPV, the vaccine, and in turn, influence decisions about whether or not they get their children vaccinated.
This proposed presentation will consist of an analysis of data from a survey (approved by a university institutional review board) that measured Kansan parent/guardian perceptions of HPV and the HPV vaccine, and if this audience perceives social media to be amplifying their fears. Results indicate that there are HPV vaccine risk perceptions among some Kansan parents/guardians, and that social media is an active and passive source of information. Additional results and their implications will be discussed in the contexts of the health belief model (Rosenstock, 1974; Rosenstock, Strecher, & Becker, 1988), the social amplification of risk framework (R. Kasperson et al., 1988), and public health applications.
About the presenterMonique Luisi
Monique is an assistant professor of Strategic Communication in the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. Her primary research interests are health messages in the media and their intersection with underserved populations. Other interests include social media and new media ethics. Her goals are to study health and risk message effects on communities.