Abstract 4964: Exploring women's healthcare barriers: impacts on adolescent HPV vaccination in Latino communities

Abstract Objective: This study examines how barriers to healthcare faced by women influence HPV vaccination uptake among Latino adolescents in Los Angeles. Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cervical cancer (CC) is a significant public health concern. Although routine HPV vaccination has been recommended in the United States for girls since 2006 and boys since 2011, disparities in vaccine initiation and completion persist, particularly among Latino adolescents in Los Angeles. Methods: Using data from the Es Tiempo campaign (2016-2018), this cross-sectional study analyzed responses from mothers of 353 Latino adolescents aged 9 to 26 years. Crosstabs were used to examine differences in vaccine initiation and completion by child sex and birth order. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between parental healthcare barriers, such as lack of health insurance and access to a primary care provider (PCP), and HPV vaccination initiation. Results: Among the sample, 44% initiated the HPV vaccine, and 23% completed the series. Girls and firstborn children had higher vaccination rates compared to boys and later-born siblings. Lack of health insurance was associated with lower odds of vaccine initiation, while access to a PCP showed a modest positive effect on vaccination uptake. Conclusion: Women's healthcare barriers significantly contribute to HPV vaccination disparities among Latino adolescents in Los Angeles. Addressing issues such as limited health insurance access and implementing targeted interventions—especially for boys—could improve vaccination rates. Future research should explore how intersecting factors, including gender, socioeconomic status, education, and healthcare access, shape vaccination behaviors and outcomes. Citation Format: Anju F. Kane, Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati. Exploring women's healthcare barriers: impacts on adolescent HPV vaccination in Latino communities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4964.