Human papillomavirus vaccine knowledge and conspiracy beliefs among secondary school students in Lebanon

Validation of the Chinese version of the vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale during COVID-19 pandemic and its correlates

OBJECTIVE

To validate the Chinese version of the vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale (VCBS) and to investigate and compare its correlates among healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

From March 19 to April 05, 2021, a nationwide cross-sectional online survey was administered to Chinese individuals aged 16 and above. The study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the VCBS. A binary logistic or linear regression model, along with mediation analysis, was employed to explore the relationship between vaccine conspiracy beliefs and its correlates among healthcare workers.

RESULTS

The VCBS demonstrated robust psychometric properties, showing satisfactory results from both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, strong internal consistency (KR-20 = 0.947), and calibration validity. Measurement invariance (MI) was also observed. Additionally, individuals' vaccine conspiracy beliefs, as measured by the VCBS, mediate the relationship between occupation and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (95 % CI [-2.229, -1.060]), as well as COVID-19 (95 % CI [0.096, 0.304]), influenza (95 % CI [0.075, 0.304]), and HPV (95 % CI [0.009, 0.236]) vaccination uptakes.

CONCLUSION

The Chinese adaptation of the VCBS proves adept at assessing vaccine conspiracy beliefs among Chinese individuals aged 16 and above. Notably, the healthcare workers are less likely to exhibit COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and are more likely to receive COVID-19, influenza, and HPV vaccines. This tendency is partly related to their weaker conspiracy beliefs about vaccination.

Determinants of human papillomavirus vaccine hesitancy among Lebanese parents

INTRODUCTION

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. HPV is responsible for cancer of cervix uteri. Despite its safety and immunogenicity, HPV vaccine hesitancy is one of the most challenging topics that pediatricians face.

METHODS

We aimed to describe the impact of knowledge, attitude, and practice towards vaccines in general, on practice related to HPV vaccination in Lebanon. A questionnaire addressed to parents of students (3-18 years of age) was distributed in 2 public and 2 private schools randomly selected from the greater Beirut area during the school year 2017-2018. Questionnaires covered knowledge, attitude, and practices of vaccination in general and HPV vaccine in particular.

RESULTS

Out of 400 distributed questionnaires, 306 (76.5%) were returned. Of the 185 parents aware of HPV vaccine, 60% hadn't given or were not planning to give the HPV vaccine to their children. Of parents not in favor of HPV vaccine, 7.5 thought that vaccines aren't necessary versus none among those in favor of HPV vaccine(p = 0.02). Thirteen percent of those not in favor of HPV vaccine thought that vaccines are not safe versus 2.7% in the group in favor (p = 0.02). An effect of gender on vaccine acceptance was noted: mothers vs fathers and daughters vs sons. Lack of recommendation by pediatricians and the thought that too little is known about the vaccine were the most selected reasons for parents not wanting to vaccinate their children against HPV, whereas cost and religious and cultural beliefs seemed to have no impact.

CONCLUSION

Most parents in our study did not vaccinate or weren't willing to vaccinate their children against HPV even when they were in favor of vaccines in general. Physician recommendation was shown to be one of the most important predictors of vaccination. Effort should be put into educating parents about the importance of the vaccine and its well-established safety and efficacy regardless of gender. Lebanese physicians should also be educated and empowered to recommend HPV vaccine more strongly and consistently.