The Association Between Parents' Knowledge About Human Papillomavirus and Their Intention to Vaccinate Their...

Introduction The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes the most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer among women worldwide and the eighth leading cause of female cancer death in Saudi Arabia, especially in women between the ages of 15 and 44. The HPV vaccine is known to prevent HPV disease and death. Because parents are often the decision-makers regarding receiving HPV vaccination during adolescence, assessing parents' knowledge about HPV and its relationship with their intention to vaccinate their daughters is highly necessary. Materials and methods An exploratory descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 773 parents, both mothers and fathers, of female students attending sixth grade from all areas of Jeddah city in Saudi Arabia were recruited. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to collect the necessary data. Results The current study findings showed that 356 (46.1%) parents had poor knowledge about HPV, 119 (15.4%) had a fair level of knowledge, and 298 (38.5%) had a good level of knowledge. While 344 (44.5%) had intention to vaccinate, 337 (43.6%) were not sure and 92 (11.9%) were not intending to vaccinate. A significant association was identified between knowledge level and respondents' variables such as being the father or mother, nationality, age, educational level, sector of employment, and monthly income. Employment status was significantly associated with the intention to vaccinate against HPV. Conclusion Concerns about the effectiveness and safety of the HPV vaccine as well as lack of knowledge about HPV and the vaccine influenced parents' negative intention to obtain the vaccine. Health promotion initiatives for the HPV vaccine should be culturally responsive and emphasize the risks and benefits of the vaccine for women. Knowledge and attitudes about HPV can be improved through concise, visually designed, and comprehensive educational intervention programs targeting parents and their children at schools. Despite the proven safety and efficacy of HPV vaccines, more comprehensive strategies may be needed in the future to increase coverage rates of HPV vaccination nationwide.