Awareness and Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Among Ethnically Diverse Women Varying in Generation Status (Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health)

​Although human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection, there is limited knowledge of HPV with ethnic/racial minorities experiencing the greatest disparities. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) to assess disparities in awareness and knowledge of HPV among ethnically/racially diverse women varying in generation status. Generation status emerged as a significant predictor of HPV awareness across ethnic/racial groups, with first generation Asian-Americans and first and second generation Latinas reporting the least awareness when compared to same-generation White counterparts. Also, generation status was a significant predictor of HPV knowledge, but only for Asian-Americans.

Regardless of ethnicity/race, first generation women reported lowest HPV knowledge when compared to second and third generation women. These findings underscore the importance of looking at differences within and across ethnic/racial groups to identify sub-groups at greatest risk for poor health outcomes. In particular, we found generation status to be an important yet often overlooked factor in the identification of health disparities.

• Luz M. Garcini
• et al