Romanian adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes towards human papillomavirus infection and prophylactic vaccination

HPV vaccination in a context of public mistrust and uncertainty: a systematic literature review of determinants of HPV vaccine hesitancy in Europe

“…Insufficient knowledge or information, and beliefs that the information available is unclear, biased and/or inadequate were identified in almost all articles reviewed. An average of 44% of hesitant participants from quantitative studies reported that there was insufficient information available about HPV vaccination, and/or that their own knowledge was insufficient, [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] particularly in studies in Romania (2015, 81%), 30 the Netherlands (2009-2011, 67%), 26,28 and Denmark (2010, 70%). 35 This was also reported by 53% of general study participants [42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51] and 11% of favourable study participants.…”

“…25,70 Additionally, 11% of hesitant adolescent girls from a 2015 study from Romania reported that their parents thought the vaccine was unsafe. 30 An average of 75% of hesitant parents from a 2010 study from Romania 79 and 39% of hesitant young women from a 2013 study from Germany 37 reported being influenced by others who had refused HPV vaccination or who had recommended against it. Additionally, 49% of general adolescent girls from a 2007 study from the UK reported being influenced by rumours.…”

“…This fear was reported by 19% of hesitant HCWs in studies in France (2007-2015) 22,74,107 and 23% of hesitant parents in studies in Italy (2007-2014). 27,50,75 Concerns about girls being too young were reported by an average of 13% of hesitant study participants 23,26,27,29,30,32,35,45,75 and 30% of general study participants. 48,110 It was most commonly reported by hesitant parents in a study in the Netherlands (2009, 52%) 26 and hesitant school nurses in a study in Sweden (2013, 48%).…”

“…Fear of needles and injection pain was reported by 29% of general study participants, 47,85,89,92 9% of hesitant study participants, 24,25,30,31,37,39,46,72 and 5% of favourable study participants. 25 Qualitative results Qualitative studies reported rumours among adolescents about vaccination pain, 102,116 the size of the needles and the pain at injection increasing with each dose, 62,116 the mistaken belief of the vaccine being administered in the cervix, 106,116 concerns about needle cleanliness, 116 and the fear that the injection could lead to a loss of virginity.…”

Human Papillomavirus Research: Where Should We Place Our Bets?

“…However, this was after significant effort and explicit government support which included the creation of the HPV Vaccination Alliance, a group of approximately 35 separate diverse organisations, including women’s rights, child welfare and various health organisations, all committed to raising awareness of HPV vaccination. The experience in Ireland and indeed elsewhere (including Denmark, Romania and Japan) [44-46] shows how rapidly successful campaigns can founder and strengthens the case for applied high-quality research that “explores barriers to vaccine participation.” Consistent feedback from KOLs on the hurdles of delivering such information was based around the challenges and governance of gaining access to unvaccinated females (in various settings) with whom to conduct qualitative research. Further interesting comments around this were that for traction, the results of such studies required “acceptance by biologic scientists and physicians of results and implementation plans.”…”