Predictors of HPV Knowledge and HPV Vaccine Awareness Among Women in Panama City, Panama

Abstract

In 2008, Panama became the first country in Latin America to offer the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine at no cost to 10‐year‐old girls as part of its National Immunization Program. Vaccine completion rates remain suboptimal, and knowledge is limited regarding public perceptions of the HPV vaccine in Panama. A cross‐sectional survey of 333 Panamanian women aged 18–65 was conducted in Panama City, Panama. Although 93 percent of respondents had heard of HPV, only 59.8 percent had heard of the HPV vaccine. Acceptability of HPV vaccination of daughters was high (95 percent). In multivariate analyses, HPV vaccine awareness was associated with age and education, but not with income, Internet use as preferred source of health information, indigenous race, or marital status. Additionally, after controlling for age, education, income, race, and Internet use, women who completed a pap test in the past 36 months were 3.12 times more likely to have heard of the HPV vaccine when compared to those who had not (95%CI 1.04–9.34). Future efforts to educate Panamanian women about the HPV vaccine should include special attention to vulnerable populations, including those of younger age and limited education.

Modifiable predictors of health literacy in working-age adults - a rapid review and meta-analysis

“…All examinations converged in that higher levels of these factors were associated with higher levels of HL. Some of these factors were study time [ 32 ], ,last cervical cancer pap test within 36 months [ 70 ], being member of a social organization [ 26 ], engaging in social groups [ 27 ], better information/access to books [ 60 ], adherence to Mediterranean diet [ 47 ], use of specific medical websites [ 33 ] and being a member of health club/welfare group in their community within last 6 months [ 52 ] (see Additional file 1 for summary of all study findings).…”

‘‘Those who do not vaccinate don’t love themselves, or anyone else’’: a qualitative study of views and attitudes of urban pregnant women towards maternal immunisation in Panama

“…For some of these indigenous groups, up to 90% live in rural areas in reservations (or comarcas ), while the majority of individuals in other groups live in urban areas within the provinces. 22 Prior studies have shown that high rates of extreme poverty and illiteracy are common among indigenous populations in Panama, and disparities in maternal mortality rates and access to healthcare persist despite efforts to improve healthcare access in these remote regions, 5 7 particularly when minority groups are extensively reported to have lower levels of trust in HCPs and the healthcare system, this picture of maternal immunisation confidence is likely to be different in other regions in Panama, particularly in the comarcas .…”

“…3 The country has a population of approximately 4.4 million people as of 2021, 4 and indigenous people comprised 12.2% of the population in 2010. 5 Adding to its large indigenous population, Panama is ethnically and culturally diverse, in large part due to its prominent role in international trade. Panama is one of the many Latin American nations with a sizeable West African diaspora, stemming from when slaves were forcefully brought in for the mining industry.…”

“…While there have been some qualitative studies in Panama investigating overall vaccine acceptance, 5 13 little is known about perceptions of maternal immunisation among pregnant women in the country. The present study investigates views and attitudes towards maternal immunisation among pregnant women in Panama City and San Miguelito.…”