Al Saedi Rawan A, Al Daajani Manal M, Alghamdi Sami A
Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jeddah, SAU.
Communicable Disease Control, Public Health Agency, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU.
Cureus. 2024 Jul 27;16(7):e65536. doi: 10.7759/cureus.65536. eCollection 2024 Jul.
Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant public health concern linked to various cancers and genital warts. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, vaccination rates remain suboptimal in many regions. Understanding parental awareness, attitudes, and acceptability of the HPV vaccine is critical for developing targeted interventions to increase vaccination uptake. Objective This study aims to assess parental awareness, attitudes, and acceptability of the HPV vaccine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and identify factors influencing their decision-making regarding HPV vaccination for their children. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2023. The calculated sample size was 420 parents. Eligible parents with at least one female child aged from nine to 18 years old were invited to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to parents, collecting data on demographics, knowledge of HPV and its vaccine, attitudes toward vaccination, and reasons for vaccine acceptability or hesitancy. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and inferential statistics were applied to identify associations between demographic factors and vaccine acceptability. Results The study included a diverse sample of parents. Approximately 153 (35.9%) of participants believed the HPV vaccine was effective, while 129 (30.3%) felt the benefits outweighed the risks. Common reasons for vaccinating included protection against sexually transmitted diseases (159, 37.3%) and genital cancers (178, 41.8%). Hesitancy was primarily due to fear of adverse effects (141, 33.1%) and insufficient information (84, 19.7%). Statistical analysis revealed significant correlations between vaccine acceptability and parental education level, employment status, and personal vaccination history. Conclusion The findings highlight a moderate level of awareness and acceptability of the HPV vaccine among parents in Jeddah. Educational interventions focusing on vaccine safety and efficacy are essential to address misconceptions and increase vaccination rates. Further research should explore tailored strategies to enhance parental acceptance of HPV vaccination in similar contexts.
背景 人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）是一个重大的公共卫生问题，与多种癌症和生殖器疣有关。尽管有有效的疫苗，但许多地区的疫苗接种率仍不理想。了解父母对HPV疫苗的认知、态度和接受程度对于制定有针对性的干预措施以提高疫苗接种率至关重要。目的 本研究旨在评估沙特阿拉伯吉达市父母对HPV疫苗的认知、态度和接受程度，并确定影响他们为孩子进行HPV疫苗接种决策的因素。方法 2023年在沙特阿拉伯吉达市进行了一项分析性横断面研究。计算得出的样本量为420名父母。邀请至少有一名9至18岁女童的符合条件的父母参与研究。向父母发放了一份结构化问卷，收集有关人口统计学、HPV及其疫苗知识、对疫苗接种的态度以及疫苗可接受或犹豫的原因的数据。使用描述性统计来汇总数据，并应用推断性统计来确定人口统计学因素与疫苗可接受性之间的关联。结果 该研究纳入了不同类型的父母样本。约153名（35.9%）参与者认为HPV疫苗有效，而129名（30.3%）认为益处大于风险。接种疫苗的常见原因包括预防性传播疾病（159名，37.3%）和生殖器癌症（178名，41.8%）。犹豫主要是由于担心不良反应（141名，3（3.1%））和信息不足（84名，19.7%）。统计分析显示疫苗可接受性与父母的教育水平、就业状况和个人疫苗接种史之间存在显著相关性。结论 研究结果凸显了吉达市父母对HPV疫苗的认知和接受程度处于中等水平。针对疫苗安全性和有效性的教育干预对于消除误解和提高疫苗接种率至关重要。进一步的研究应探索在类似背景下增强父母对HPV疫苗接种接受度的针对性策略。
