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

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Ganczak

    (Department of Epidemiology and Management, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University, Zolnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Barbara Owsianka

    (Multispecialty Hospital, Lubanska 11-12, 59-900 Zgorzelec, Poland)

  • Marcin Korzeń

    (Department of Methods of Artificial Intelligence and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Zolnierska 46, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Ganczak & Barbara Owsianka & Marcin Korzeń, 2018. "Factors that Predict Parental Willingness to Have Their Children Vaccinated against HPV in a Country with Low HPV Vaccination Coverage," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:645-:d:138988
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Joanna Jeruzal-Świątecka & Wioletta Pietruszewska, 2020. "Awareness of Human Papillomavirus and Its Oncogenic Potential in Head and Neck Cancer among Students: Still More Questions than Answers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-10, November.
    2. Marzena Drozd-Dąbrowska & Katarzyna Topczewska & Marcin Korzeń & Anna Sałacka & Maria Ganczak, 2019. "Parental Knowledge about Meningococcal Disease and Vaccination Uptake among 0–5 years Old Polish Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Karolina Sobeczek & Mariusz Gujski & Filip Raciborski, 2022. "HPV Vaccination: Polish-Language Facebook Discourse Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-10, January.

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