Knowledge, attitudes and acceptance toward Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination: Perspectives of Muslim women and men

OBJECTIVES

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the leading risk factor for the development of anogenital cancers. Most Arab countries lack both HPV education and national HPV vaccination programs. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance toward HPV vaccination in men and women from Oman, a country in the Middle Eastern North Africa region.

METHODS

This cross-sectional quantitative study used convenience sampling to recruit male and female participants, aged 18 years and above from all 11 governorates of Oman to complete a validated self-administered questionnaire online in the Arabic language. The questionnaire comprised five sections, with a total of 32 questions. The questionnaire, including Arabic and English versions, was content validated and piloted.

RESULTS

A total of 1403 participants, including 952 parents and 369 healthcare providers, completed the survey. The results showed a lack of knowledge regarding HPV infection and vaccines, including among healthcare providers. Less than a quarter of the participants had heard of HPV infection, with digital sources of information being the most common. Factors such as being a woman or a healthcare provider or completing higher levels of education were independently and significantly positively association with HPV awareness (p < 0.001). The majority of the participants lacked vaccine safety knowledge, had concerns about the vaccine's side effects, and sought reassurance of its protection against HPV infection (62%, 71.5%, and 84.6%, respectively). Nevertheless, nearly two-thirds of the participants agreed to take the HPV vaccine, with support for both boys and girls being vaccinated. There was almost universal agreement among the participants regarding the need for parental and adolescent HPV educational programs.

CONCLUSION

Omani women and men showed a high level of acceptance and favorable attitude toward HPV vaccination. The study findings support future efforts to implement school and public-level HPV education and a national HPV vaccination program in Oman.

Role of the nurse immuniser in implementing and maintaining the National Human Papillomavirus 'Cervical Cancer' Vaccine rollout through a school-based program in Victoria

In an effort to understand the strengths and limitations of current approaches to human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) delivery in schools, we conducted an audit of nurse immunisers (NI). In this survey of 159 Victorian NI, the NI perceived that knowledge, safety and side effects were among the most important issues raised by parents, schoolgirls, and teachers in the school setting. The most common concern identified by NIs was the physical layout of the vaccination setting (41%), followed by safety, then knowledge of the vaccine. There is a need for ongoing assessment of factors that improve or impede the delivery of HPV vaccines.

Global reduction of cervical cancer with human papillomavirus vaccines: insights from the hepatitis B virus vaccine experience

Background: Worldwide, prophylactic vaccines against two major human cancers are now commercially available: hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines (first licensed in 1982) against primary hepatocellular carcinoma and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines (first licensed 2006) against cervical cancer. Initial implementation strategies for HBV vaccination were not successful in preventing disease in the community: it took 15 years for significant global reduction in the burden of this disease. Methods: We compare and contrast HBV vaccine experiences to challenges for successful global HPV vaccination strategies, and make recommendations accordingly. Results: Lessons from HBV immunisation for successful outcomes with HPV immunisation showed that several factors need to be met: (i) the engagement of key stakeholders in all aspects of planning and delivery of HPV vaccine strategies; (ii) understanding the specific characteristics of targeted population groups; (iii) global cooperation and support with WHO recommendations; (iv) Government supported mass immunization programs and cooperation between public and private entities; (v) affordable HPV vaccines for some regions; (vi) culturally appropriate and diverse public education programs in targeted health promotion strategies; (vii) pro-active health providers and parents in encouraging adolescents to undertake HPV vaccination; and (vii) eventual immunisation of infants. Conclusions: The key to success will be affordable, readily deliverable HPV vaccines to young girls as universal campaigns.