Female University Students' HPV-related Knowledge and Influencing Factors on HPV Vaccination

Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions associated with HPV vaccination among female Korean and Chinese university students

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a form of primary prevention for cervical cancer. The HPV vaccination rate of female university students is not high in Korea and China. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify and compare the factors associated with intention to receive HPV vaccination between Korean and Chinese female university students.

METHODS

The participants were 273 Korean and 317 Chinese female university students who had not been vaccinated for HPV, and data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire about attitudes toward HPV vaccination, HPV knowledge, perceptions of HPV infection, and intention to receive HPV vaccine.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the Korean and Chinese female university students in HPV knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and vaccination intention. The factors influencing the intention of HPV vaccination in Korean students were a positive attitude toward the HPV vaccine and a high HPV knowledge score. For Chinese students, sexual experience, awareness of genital warts, a positive attitude toward the HPV vaccine, a high HPV knowledge scores, a perception of the seriousness of HPV infection, and negative emotions regarding HPV infection were significant factors.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to improve attitudes and knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine in order to enhance HPV vaccination both in Korea and China. Perceived seriousness and negative emotions regarding HPV infection should be used as a framework to develop subject-tailored interventions in China.

Health Care Provider Perceptions of Facilitators and Barriers to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Delivery in Five Countries

BACKGROUND

National human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs could reduce global cervical cancer morbidity and mortality with support from health care providers. We assessed providers' perceptions of HPV vaccination in 5 countries.

METHODS

We identified providers from 5 countries where national HPV vaccination programs were at various stages of implementation: Argentina, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain. Providers authorized to administer adolescent vaccines completed an in-depth survey, reporting perceptions of barriers and facilitators to initiating and completing HPV vaccination, and logistical challenges to HPV vaccination.

RESULTS

Among 151 providers, common barriers to HPV vaccination initiation across all countries were parents' lack of awareness (39%), concerns about vaccine safety or efficacy (33%), and cost to patients (30%). Vaccination education campaign (70%) was the most commonly cited facilitator of HPV vaccination initiation. Common barriers to series completion included no reminder system or dosing schedule (37%), loss to follow-up or forgetting appointment (29%), and cost to patients (25%). Cited facilitators to completing the vaccine series were education campaigns (45%), affordable vaccination (32%), and reminder/recall systems (22%). Among all countries, high cost of vaccination was the most common logistical challenge to offering vaccination to adolescents (33%).

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporating provider insights into future HPV vaccination programs could accelerate vaccine delivery to increase HPV vaccination rates globally.

Factors Influencing HPV Vaccination Intention in Mothers with Elementary School Daughters

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to identify the impacts of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination-related health belief, attitudes toward HPV vaccination, and subjective norms on HPV vaccination intent targeting mothers of elementary school daughters.

METHODS

The study use a correlative survey design. The subjects of the study were 121 mothers of elementary school daughters located in metropolitan city B. All subjects agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected from September 1 to October 18, 2018, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Independent t-test, ANOVA with a post hoc Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression.

RESULTS

Attitude toward HPV vaccination, subjective norms, vaccination plans for their children, and mother's vaccination status were significant factors influencing HPV vaccination intention. These factors accounted for 72% of the HPV vaccination intention. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that factors affecting the intention of mothers of elementary school daughters to vaccinate against HPV were HPV vaccination attitudes, subjective norms, vaccination plans for their children, and mother's vaccination status. The biggest influencing factor was HPV vaccination attitudes. Therefore, in order to encourage mothers of elementary school daughters to vaccinate against HPVs, national-level policies should be implemented to create a social atmosphere of positive attitudes toward HPV vaccinations that also emphasizes how easy it is to get vaccinated against HPV. Based on this, mothers of elementary school daughters should be encouraged to have them vaccinated against HPV, thus contributing to improving the HPV vaccination rates of elementary school girls.

Current Status of Human Papillomavirus Infection and Introduction of Vaccination to the National Immunization Program in Korea: an Overview

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection and is associated with the development of cervical cancer. The purpose of this report is to provide the literature evidences on selecting the HPV vaccine for national immunization program (NIP) in Korea. To complete these tasks, we reviewed domestic and foreign literature on the current status of HPV infection, efficacy and effectiveness of HPV vaccine, safety of vaccine and cost effectiveness analysis of vaccination business. Given that the median age of first sexual intercourse is continuing to fall, this may have serious implications for HPV infection and cervical cancer incidence at the age of 20s. The World Health Organization recommends that the HPV vaccination should be included in the NIP being implemented in each country. Both the bivalent and quadrivalent vaccines have a 90% or greater preventive efficacy on cervical intraepithelial lesion 2-3 and cervical cancer by the HPV 16 or HPV 18. In the future, if HPV vaccination rate as part of NIP increases, it is expected that the incidence of HPV infection, genital warts, and cervical precancerous lesions will be decreased in the vaccination age group. Therefore, in order to increase the HPV vaccination rate at this point in Korea, social consensus and efforts such as the introduction and promotion of HPV vaccine to the NIP according to appropriate cost-effectiveness analysis are required.

Factors influencing Human Papillomavirus Vaccination intention in Female High School Students: Application of Planned Behavior Theory

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to identify effects of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavior control toward Human Papillomavirus (HPV) on HPV vaccination intention in female high school students.

METHODS

Subjects of this study were female students aged 16 to 17 years, the optimal age group of HPV vaccination, arbitrarily selected from three high schools in B city. A total of 140 students agreed to participate in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, correlation, and stepwise multiple regression.

RESULTS

Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavior control toward HPV were factors influencing HPV vaccination intention of subjects. Perceived behavior control toward HPV vaccination was the most influential factor. These factors accounted for 49% of HPV vaccination intention.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest a need to increase perceived behavior control to increase HPV vaccination intention. The government needs to establish a national policy system such as financial support for HPV vaccines and free vaccinations so that students are aware that HPV vaccines can be easily inoculated.

Factors involved in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine hesitancy among women in the South-East Asian Region (SEAR) and Western Pacific Region (WPR): A scoping review

A scoping review was performed to identify factors that may lead to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine hesitancy among women in low- and middle-income countries in South East Asian Region (SEAR) and Western Pacific Region (WPR). A systematic search of English and non-English articles using Pubmed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane, MEDLINE, and CINAHL plus was conducted. Only 63 studies conducted in SEAR and WPR were included from inception until December 2016. Results of these studies have shown that poor awareness and knowledge of practices on cervical cancer prevention was evident in both SEAR and WPR. Concerns on safety and efficacy of the vaccine, and costs in getting vaccinated were significant barriers. Most women stated that they needed more information, and strongly welcomed a physician's recommendation in both geographical regions. Women also felt they have a low risk of acquiring HPV infection and cervical cancer. Most women in SEAR and WPR were unable to decide on whether to accept HPV vaccination.

Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention in Young Korean Immigrant Women: Implications for Intervention Development

This study aimed to identify major barriers to Papanicolaou (Pap) test uptake and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine acceptability. Three focus groups with 16 young Korean immigrant women residing in a community in the Midwest were conducted. Braun and Clarke’s six phases of thematic analysis were used to develop themes. Three major themes emerged as barriers: (a) limited knowledge about cervical cancer and preventive behaviors, (b) culture-specific barriers, and (c) low accessibility to health care services. These themes were multifactorial and interrelated barriers to Pap test uptake and HPV vaccine acceptability among young Korean immigrant women. These findings indicate that culturally tailored cervical cancer education is needed to promote Pap test uptake and HPV vaccination in this underserved population.

Attitude, Acceptability and Knowledge of HPV Vaccination among Local University Students in Hong Kong

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has the great potential to prevent HPV-related infections for millions of women and men worldwide. However, the success of the vaccine is highly dependent on the vaccination rate. Factors influencing the attitudes of undergraduate students towards HPV vaccination should be studied. This is a cross-sectional survey that was conducted to estimate the HPV vaccination rate among undergraduate students in Hong Kong, and to identify the predictors of their attitude towards HPV vaccination. The results showed that the HPV vaccination rate was 13.3%. Factors related to knowledge of vaccination were the main predictors of the students’ attitude towards vaccination (there were seven predictors, with B = 1.36 to 2.30; p < 0.05), followed by gender (B = −1.40; p < 0.05), acceptable maximum price (B = 0.35; p < 0.05), and willingness to receive the HPV vaccine if it can protect against cervical/anal cancer and genital warts (B = −1.90; p < 0.001). The regression model that was developed based on the predictors had a moderate effect size (adj-R² = 0.33). To conclude, the HPV vaccination rate among undergraduate students in Hong Kong was low. They should be provided with more active education and activities to promote HPV vaccination to improve their knowledge on the subject.

Knowledge Level of Human Papillomavirus, Cervical Cancer and Vaccination Status among Mothers with Daughters in High School

PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to examine knowledge level of human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer, and vaccination status among Korean mothers' with a daughter in high school.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a convenience sample of 234 Korean mothers.

RESULTS

The mean score of HPV knowledge level was 4.21 out of 20, and cervical cancer knowledge was 3.88 out of 7. There were low levels of daughters' who received HPV vaccination (3.8%) and high levels of mothers' intention to get their daughters' vaccinated with HPV (85.0%). The major barrier to HPV vaccination was the concern for side effect from the vaccination. The most effective recommendation for HPV vaccination came from health care providers.

CONCLUSION

HPV educational programs targeting mothers of daughters in high school is needed. Future studies need to determine actual HPV vaccination rates and factors related to high uptake using a larger sample from various socioeconomic background.