Motilal Shastri, Mohepath Nicholas, Moncur Jana, Mohess Ricky, Mohan Vasthala, Mohammed Shanaz, Moore Diana, Mosca Katherina, Mulchan Tisha
Department of Paraclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, TTO.
Cureus. 2023 Aug 16;15(8):e43581. doi: 10.7759/cureus.43581. eCollection 2023 Aug.
Background Cervical cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in young women in Trinidad and Tobago. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs of Trinidadian parents toward human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. In addition, factors predictive of willingness to vaccinate were explored. Methodology In this cross-sectional study conducted between March and May 2019, a paper-based survey was self-administered to parents of children in the 5-12-year age group in seven geographically representative Trinidadian primary schools. Results Of the 420 questionnaires distributed, 160 were returned completed (38% response rate). General knowledge that HPV causes cervical cancer and genital warts and is spread by sexual contact was common among 81%, 71%, and 81% of parents, respectively. At least 40% of the respondents expressed uncertainty about the vaccine's long-lasting health problems and its effectiveness in preventing genital warts and cervical cancer. Half of the parents were unsure if the vaccine was harmful. The perceptions that vaccine safety data are fabricated, drug companies cover up the dangers of vaccines, vaccine efficacy data are often fabricated, people are deceived about vaccine efficacy and safety, and conspiracy beliefs were held by 15.5%, 26.1%, 13%, 21.7%, and 28.5% of parents, respectively. There was a negative correlation between knowledge and conspiracy belief scores (ρ = -0.30, p < 0.001). Overall, 45.3% of parents were willing to immunize their children against HPV. Being informed about HPV by a health professional (odds ratio (OR) = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-5.8), knowledge of the benefits (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 2.2-9.6), and a health professional offering the option of vaccination (OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.7-8.0) were associated with significantly increased odds of parents willing to vaccinate their child. The agreement that vaccine safety data are often fabricated (OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.12-0.84), pharmaceutical companies cover up the dangers of vaccines (OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.06-0.37), waiting at the clinic being time-consuming (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.15-0.89), and the beliefs that adolescents are too young to get a vaccine to prevent sexually transmitted disease (OR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.11-0.83) were associated with a significantly decreased willingness to vaccinate. Conclusions While general knowledge about HPV was high, there remain several areas for parental education regarding the HPV vaccine. Misbeliefs need to be addressed and multilevel interventions are needed to improve HPV vaccine uptake in our setting.
在特立尼达和多巴哥，宫颈癌仍是年轻女性发病和死亡的主要原因。本研究旨在确定特立尼达父母对人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）疫苗接种的知识、态度、认知和信念。此外，还探讨了预测接种意愿的因素。方法：在2019年3月至5月进行的这项横断面研究中，对特立尼达七所具有地理代表性的小学中5至12岁儿童的父母进行了纸质问卷调查，由他们自行填写。结果：在分发的420份问卷中，160份被完整收回（回复率为38%）。分别有81%、71%和81%的父母普遍了解HPV会导致宫颈癌和尖锐湿疣，且通过性接触传播。至少40%的受访者对疫苗的长期健康问题及其预防尖锐湿疣和宫颈癌的有效性表示不确定。一半的父母不确定疫苗是否有害。分别有15.5%、26.1%、13%、21.7%和28.5%的父母认为疫苗安全数据是编造的、制药公司掩盖了疫苗的危险、疫苗疗效数据经常被编造、人们在疫苗疗效和安全性方面受到欺骗以及存在阴谋论。知识得分与阴谋论得分之间存在负相关（ρ = -0.30，p < 0.001）。总体而言，45.3%的父母愿意为孩子接种HPV疫苗。由卫生专业人员告知HPV相关信息（比值比（OR）= 2.9，95%置信区间（CI）1.5 - 5.8）、了解疫苗益处（OR = 4.6，95% CI = 2.2 - 9.6）以及卫生专业人员提供接种选项（OR = 3.7，95% CI = 1.7 - 8.0）与父母愿意为孩子接种疫苗的几率显著增加相关。认为疫苗安全数据经常被编造（OR = 0.31，95% CI = 0.12 - 0.8）、制药公司掩盖疫苗危险（OR = 0.14，95% CI = 0.06 - 0.37）、在诊所等待耗时（OR = 0.37，95% CI = 0.15 - 0.89）以及认为青少年太小不能接种预防性传播疾病疫苗（OR = 0.16，95% CI = 0.11 - 0.83）与接种意愿显著降低相关。结论：虽然对HPV的一般知识了解程度较高，但在HPV疫苗方面仍有几个方面需要对父母进行教育。需要解决错误观念，并需要采取多层次干预措施来提高我们地区HPV疫苗的接种率。
