Parental Acceptability of HPV Vaccination for Adolescent Daughters and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Bozhou, China.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate parents' acceptability of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for their daughters and associated factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in a city in China with a sample population of parents with a daughter in middle school. Participants' demographic characteristics, knowledge level regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine, perspectives on the health belief model (HBM) constructs, social norms, and acceptability of the HPV vaccine were determined through self-administered questionnaires.

RESULTS

Among the 523 parents who completed the questionnaire, 71.5% expressed willingness to have their daughters vaccinated against HPV infection and cervical cancer. Logistic regression analysis revealed higher acceptability in the participants with higher perceived severity of HPV infection (OR = 4.823, 95% CI = 2.683, 12.049), higher knowledge-assessment score (OR = 1.298, 95% CI = 1.055, 1.476), and higher perceived safety of the HPV vaccine (OR = 6.372, 95% CI = 3.856, 14.062). Parents influenced by social norms (OR = 4.959, 95% CI = 2.989, 14.386) and those who complied with physicians' recommendations (OR = 4.896, 95% CI = 1.936, 9.258) reported higher levels of acceptability.

IMPLICATIONS

Our results provide preliminary evidence on the need for health education programs and HPV vaccination campaigns. Future studies should focus on whether the factors associated with vaccination can increase parental acceptability of the HPV vaccine.