Factors Influencing the Decision to Vaccinate against HPV amongst a Population of Female Health Students

Abstract

Background: In Switzerland, HPV vaccination has been recommended since 2007 for all adolescent girls aged between 11 and 14 years. More than 10 years after the introduction of this recommendation, immunization coverage targets have not been met. Very few studies at a national level describe the reasons for the reluctance of some young women to become vaccinated. The aim of this study is to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of a population of vaccinated and unvaccinated female health students and then to compare the different factors that may have influenced their vaccine choice. Method: Female health students in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, aged between 18 and 31, were invited to participate in the study. A total of 234 female students completed a questionnaire that included questions about their socio-demographic data, sexual behavior and vaccination status. Results: 69% of the participants received at least one dose of the vaccine. Women who had not yet had sex were less likely to be vaccinated than sexually active women (ORa: 0.1, 0.0–0.4, 95% CI), the same as those who did not express an opinion about the importance of vaccination (ORa: 0.1: 0.0–0.6, 95% CI). The main reasons given for refusing vaccination were fear of side effects (26.0%), parental opposition (24.6%) and reluctance of the attending physician (13.6%). Conclusions: The main results of this study highlight a good rate of vaccine coverage in the sample population. Reasons for nonvaccination demonstrate the need to provide information on the vaccine to the target audience, as well as to parents and health professionals.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Types 16/18 and Effect of Vaccination among Japanese Female General Citizens in the Vaccine Crisis Era

“…In a cross-sectional observational study of 234 female students in Switzerland, female virgins were less likely to be vaccinated than sexually active women, similar to those who did not express an opinion about the importance of vaccination. The main reasons for refusing vaccination were fear of side effects, parental opposition, and the reluctance of the attending physician [ 17 ]. HPV vaccination needs to be initiated before the sex debut.…”

Vaccine hesitancy among nursing and midwifery undergraduate students in Switzerland: protocol for an online national study

“…The results of the study will then be compared with findings from previous studies that surveyed Switzerland using the same questions ( 25 , 26 ); with other studies surveying the same population in Switzerland using a different questionnaire ( 42 , 43 ) and with vaccine confidence results from other countries ( 25 , 26 , 41 ).…”

“…To assess vaccine hesitancy and likelihood to recommend HPV vaccine to patients, we selected the Vaccine Confidence Index™ (VCI), focusing on questions relevant to our study’s objectives ( 50 ). Additionally, we included two questions assessing HPV vaccination status, adapted from a previous study on the same population ( 43 ). This question will allow us to assess both vaccine coverage within the targeted population and whether there is an association between HPV vaccine history and confidence in the HPV vaccine.…”

“…A recent study, with very similar goals to ours, assessed vaccine confidence among healthcare students in South Africa using the VCI ( 41 ). In Switzerland, studies targeting the same population evaluated factors influencing HPV vaccination, as vaccination coverage for this vaccine is still too low ( 42 , 43 ).…”

“…We will also ask their vaccination status for the targeted HPV vaccine, to determine whether this population is already vaccinated or if awareness campaigns could be useful to increase vaccination coverage. This data can also be compared with the results of previous studies conducted on this same population to assess any changes in vaccination coverage ( 42 , 43 ) and with the results of the 2018 VCP survey for Switzerland ( 25 ).…”