Health beliefs and associated factors related to HPV and HPV vaccination in a sample of Turkish women: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine women's health beliefs about HPV and HPV vaccination and factors associated with health beliefs. This cross‐sectional study was conducted with 300 women aged 21–64 in Turkey. Data were collected using the human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge scale (HPV‐KS) and the health belief model scale for human papillomavirus and its vaccination (HBMS‐HPVV). The mean age of the women who participated in the study was 35.16 ± 9.52 years. Of them, 72.3% heard of the HPV test, 30.3% had an HPV test, 62% heard of HPV vaccination, and 9.7% had HPV vaccination. Educational level, hearing about the HPV vaccine, and HPV knowledge level were significant predictors of perceived benefit (p < .001). HPV knowledge level significantly predicted perceived susceptibility (p < .001). HPV knowledge level and hearing about HPV tests and vaccines were significant predictors of perceived severity (p < .001). A high level of education, a high level of HPV knowledge, and hearing about HPV tests and the HPV vaccine positively affect women's health beliefs. Health belief model‐based education programs should be used to improve women's HPV knowledge and health beliefs about HPV and the HPV vaccine. In addition to women's health beliefs, cervical cancers can only be prevented by including the HPV vaccine in national immunization programs and increasing the coverage of HPV screening tests.