Girls with mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions are less likely to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, a new study published in The Lancet Public Health reveals. Conducted by Dr. Kejia Hu and her team at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, the study examined HPV vaccine uptake among girls born between January 1, 2002, and March 1, 2004, focusing on those eligible for the two-dose vaccination.

The population-based cohort study, which included 115,104 girls, found that 1.9% had a specialist diagnosis of a mental health condition. The overall uptake of the first HPV vaccine dose was 80.7%, but significantly lower for girls with mental health issues. Those with autism or intellectual disabilities were particularly affected, with an adjusted relative risk of 0.79 and 0.78, respectively, for not receiving the vaccine. Similarly, girls prescribed psychotropic medications were also less likely to be vaccinated, with the strongest association observed in those taking antipsychotic drugs (adjusted relative risk of 0.68).

While the uptake of the second vaccine dose was higher at 95.0%, there was no strong correlation between second-dose completion and mental health conditions in either the girls or their parents.

The findings underscore a disparity in cervical cancer prevention among vulnerable populations. "These results highlight the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention for girls with mental health conditions," the authors conclude.

With the HPV vaccine being a key tool in preventing cervical cancer, these results call for further research and action to bridge the gap in healthcare access for girls with neurodevelopmental and mental health challenges.