Factors that Predict Parental Willingness to Have Their Children Vaccinated against HPV in a Country with Low HPV Vaccination Coverage

Abstract

Background: Adolescent HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccination is yet to be introduced as a mandatory program in Poland. Polish literature on factors associated with adolescent HPV vaccination is scant, despite the fact that uptake is one of the poorest in the European Union. Objectives: To assess HPV awareness and identify independent predictors for parental willingness to have their children vaccinated against HPV. Methods: All parents of first grade students from three selected high schools in Zgorzelec, Poland, who participated in parent–teacher meetings at the time the study was conducted, had their children unvaccinated regarding HPV, and who gave informed consent to participate were included. There were 600 first grade students; 9 were vaccinated against HPV. This left 591 parents who met the eligibility criteria; the response rate was 76.1%. Results: Awareness of HPV was reported by 55.3% of 450 parents (mean age 42 years, 70.9% females); 85.1% expressed their willingness to vaccinate their children against HPV; 31.3% identified HPV as a sexually transmitted pathogen, and 36.2% identified it as a risk factor of cervical cancer. Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that being employed (OR 2.09; 95% CI: 1.10–3.86), having positive attitudes toward vaccines (OR 3.02; 95% CI: 1.34–6.49), previous information about HPV (OR 2.02; 95% CI: 1.17–3.51), and concerns about the side effects of the HPV vaccine (OR 0.60; 95% CI: 0.35–0.99) were independent predictors of parents’ willingness to vaccinate. Conclusions: Attitudes regarding their child being vaccinated against HPV were positive among Polish parents, even though awareness and knowledge of HPV in this group were low. Most of the significant factors that influenced their willingness were modifiable, such as being informed about HPV and having positive attitudes toward vaccines. Future interventions should focus specifically on vulnerable subgroups, such as unemployed parents.

Parental willingness to vaccinate adolescent daughters against human papilloma virus for cervical cancer prevention in western Nigeria

“…The high level of willingness shown by the respondents in this study (80.9%) to accept HPV vaccination for their daughters is consistent with the reports from previous studies in Poland among parents where a major proportion of the total respondents (85.1%) expressed their willingness to vaccinate their daughters against HPV infection [ 31 ]. This is also similar to another study in UAE where 76.6% of the respondents were willing to give their daughters HPV vaccine [ 32 ] and another study in Enugu, Nigeria where 91% of the respondents were willing to recommend it to their adolescent daughters [ 14 ].…”

Knowledge of the role of vaccinations, physical activity and other cancer prevention methods among Polish outpatients

“…it showed that only 29% of the respondents had heard of hPV, and few knew that it is associated with cervical cancer. in a Polish survey, almost half of 450 parents of high school students who participated in the study (44.7%) had never heard of hPV [20]. regarding parents' attitudes toward hPV, 92% stated that vaccines are effective in disease prevention, and 43.1% were concerned about the possible side effects of vaccination.…”

The odds that working women will accept cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination

“…It is still speculated that being employed, high income earner and married are associated with, or constitute positive influence for acceptance of cervical services. 14,15 However, the background literature indicate dearth of research investigation on the odds of women's acceptance of both cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination. Thus, there may be erroneous assumption that affordability is a reason for accepting any of these services.…”