Factors influencing adolescent girls’ decision in initiation for human papillomavirus vaccination: a cross-sectional study in Hong Kong

Abstract

BackgroundCervical cancer is one of the common cancers among women worldwide. Despite HPV vaccination being one of the effective preventive measures, it is not included in government vaccination programme in Hong Kong. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of and attitude towards cervical cancer prevention among Chinese adolescent girls in Hong Kong, and to identify factors influencing the initiation of HPV vaccination.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted in Hong Kong during the period of October 2010 to November 2010. A self-administered questionnaire was used, with 1,416 girls from 8 secondary schools completing the questionnaire. Knowledge scores were composited and initiation of HPV vaccination was staged based on stage of change. Analyses were conducted to identify the association of initiation of HPV vaccination with participant’s personal and family factors as well as their knowledge and attitude towards cervical cancer prevention.ResultsThe uptake rate of HPV vaccination was low (7%) with 58% respondents in pre-contemplation and contemplation stage. The survey identified a significant gap in knowledge on cervical cancer prevention. The main channels of information were from media and very few from schools or parents. However, 70% expressed their wishes to have more information on cancer prevention, and 78% stated that they were willing to change their lifestyles if they knew the ways of prevention. Multivariate analysis identified three independent significant factors for initiation of vaccination (action and intention): perceived cancer as terrifying disease, school should provide more information on cancer prevention, and comments from relatives and friends having received the vaccine. The cost of vaccination and socio-economic background were not found to be significant.ConclusionsPublic education on cervical cancer needs to be well penetrated into the community for more sharing among friends and relatives. School as setting to provide source of information would facilitate uptake rate of HPV vaccine as students have expressed their wishes that school should provide more information on prevention of cancer. School and community education on cancer prevention would help adolescents to have better understanding of the seriousness of cancer.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-925) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Revisiting knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among female university students in Hong Kong

“…Previous studies focused on university students from one tertiary institution when HPV vaccines were newly introduced in 2006. 15,16,18 It is generally recognised that the perceived effectiveness of HPV vaccines, the cost of vaccination, and the perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer, were identified as associated with HPV vaccination. 15 However, in recent years women have been encouraged to receive HPV vaccines through different channels, such as family doctors' recommendations, outdoor advertisements and television advertisements.…”

To Consent or Decline HPV Vaccination: A Pilot Study at the Start of the National School‐Based Vaccination Program in Sweden

“…Other factors that might influence the decision about vaccination are subjective norms and emotions 22. Information from social media and the internet may also influence the decision 23, 24. The quality of the information varies; information from public agencies as well as anti‐vaccine movements is available 25…”

“…22 Information from social media and the internet may also influence the decision. 23,24 The quality of the information varies; information from public agencies as well as anti-vaccine movements is available. 25 We recently carried out 2 qualitative studies 8,9 exploring why parents refused or agreed to let their daughters have the HPV vaccination.…”

Human papillomavirus infection and vaccination: Knowledge and attitudes among young males in Italy

“…7,8 In Italy, the vaccination is currently recommended and provided free for girls aged 11 and 12 y, and only in few geographic areas also for men. Numerous studies in different countries have evaluated individuals' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward the vaccination mainly among health care providers, [9][10][11] adolescents, [13][14][15][16] and women and men for themselves [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] or for their adolescent daughters [26][27][28] or sons. [29][30][31] Unfortunately all these issues among young males have only been studied to a limited extent.…”