Singaporean Women's Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Attitudes Toward HPV Vaccination

Abstract

With a vaccination program currently planned to protect Singaporean women from human papillomavirus, a need arises for assessing Singaporean women's knowledge of human papillomavirus and attitudes toward human papillomavirus vaccination to identify barriers to a successful program and to help inform health education campaigns. A representative sample of 2,145 women aged between 18 and 49 years were randomly selected from households throughout Singapore and interviewed with a similar questionnaire to that used in a recent study of Australian women. Although Singaporean women's knowledge of human papillomavirus was poor, with only 20% having heard of it, attitudes toward human papillomavirus vaccination were generally positive. The most trusted sources of information about human papillomavirus and vaccination were gynecologists and general practitioners. Based on our findings, an urgent need exists in Singapore for accurate and accessible information about human papillomavirus and the benefits of vaccination.

Effects of a Peer Cervical Cancer Prevention Education Program on Korean Female College Students' Knowledge, Attitude, Self-efficacy, and Intention

“…This may related to HPV vaccine marketing in Korea. Similar to the marketing in other Asian countries (Hsu et al, 2009;Pitts et al, 2009), the HPV vaccine in Korea has been marketed as an anticancer vaccine and not a vaccine against an STD caused by HPV infection (Kang & Kim, 2011). Therefore, female college students in Korea have not perceived benefits of the HPV vaccine to prevent genital warts and HPV and do not considered themselves targets for HPV vaccination.…”

Factors influencing the recommendation of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine by South African doctors working in a tertiary hospital

“…Many studies report that HCW are the most trusted, preferred and influential source of HPV vaccine information for adolescents and parents. [20][21][22] There were mixed results reported regarding HCW recommendation of HPV vaccines -despite its importance. A study reported a 93-fold increase of HPV vaccination uptake because of HCW discussion and recommendation of HPV vaccination.…”

Predicting Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination and Pap Smear Screening Intentions Among Young Singaporean Women Using the Theory of Planned Behavior

“…The TPB model predicts that women have higher intentions to utilize cervical cancer prevention measures if they hold favorable attitudes (Jennings-Dozier, 1999;Linton, 2009;Teitelman et al, 2011). Studies have reported significant associations between cervical cancer prevention measures and attitudinal relatedfactors such as pain, embarrassment, and fear (Pitts et al, 2009;Steven et al, 2004), inconvenience and cost (Kuitto et al, 2010;Tan, 2013), and health benefits (Reid, 2001).…”

“…Injunctive norm is the approval or disapproval of vaccination or Pap smear by important social referent figures. For example, in South-East Asian countries, parents and doctors may express negative concerns about sexual promiscuity and side effects (Chow et al, 2010;Pitts et al, 2009). Women also seek the approval of their relationship partner (Yeoh et al, 2006).…”

“…Across a range of samples, attitudes and self-efficacy perceptions have been associated with prevention intentions. For example, pain, embarrassment, and fear were reported as intrusive (Pitts et al, 2009;Steven et al, 2004), extenuated by negative perceptions of inconvenience and cost incurred by medical examinations (Kuitto, Pickel, Neumann, Jahn, & Metelmann, 2010;Tan, 2013). Perceptions of long-term health benefit have been associated with regular screening attendance (Reid, 2001).…”