The ‘best friend effect’: a promising tool to encourage HPV vaccination in Japan

Abstract

Background In Japan, HPV vaccination rates has dramaticaly declined since 2013. Since mothers are the ones making the decision to vaccinate their daughters against HPV, we probed the mothers’ intention to receive vaccinations for themselves and to vaccinate their daughters against HPV, and their reasoning. Methods An internet survey was conducted in March of 2021. Through the screening, 1576 participants were extracted from a survey panel and divided into 3 groups based on their daughter’s birth fiscal year (Group 1: 1994 to 1999, Group 2: 2000 to 2003, Group3: 2004 to 2008). The chi-square test and residual analysis were used for the statistical analysis of comparison among the groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent variables with mothers intention to get their daughters vaccinated under specific situations. Results The percentage of respondents without anxiety regarding their daughter’s general vaccination was significantly higher in Group 1 ( p < 0.05). In the mothers of daughters born in or after 2000 when vaccination rates declined (Groups 2 and 3), a situation in which ‘The daughter's best friends were vaccinated before her’ made the mothers think positively about HPV vaccination, and to the same degree as a situation in which ‘You received a notice from your local government recommending vaccination’ (Group 2: 41.6% (214/514) and 40.5% (208/514), Group 3: 48.5% (257/530) and 47.0% (249/530)). Conclusion If mothers who have had their daughters vaccinated were to recommend HPV vaccination to their close friends, ‘the best friend effect’ should promote others to be vaccinated. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10147-022-02240-7.

Parental gender influences their intention to HPV vaccinate their children, and the association between HPV and COVID-19 vaccination intentions

“…People can sometimes act with “herd behavior”, making decisions based on the actions of others, but mainly their family, friends, peers and acquaintances [26] . Whether or not her child's best friend has been HPV vaccinated is significantly associated with a mother’s intention to vaccinate her own child [27] . The huge difference in current HPV and COVID-19 vaccination rates implies that there are many acquaintances who have received the COVID19 vaccine but few acquaintances who have received the HPV vaccine.…”

Association of Regular Cervical Cancer Screening with Socioeconomic, COVID-19 Infection and Vaccine Status Among Japanese Population: Cohort Observational Study

“…recommendations from parents and best friends are more effective ways to promote vaccination. 27 Therefore, information on cervical cancer, its prevention, and CCS should be actively provided to women aged <40 years.…”