Parental Perspectives on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A systematic...

This systematic review aims to synthesize existing research on parental knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Following PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review analyzed parental knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to HPV vaccination in 6 GCC countries. A comprehensive search across multiple electronic databases (Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, and PubMed) was conducted, focusing on studies published between January 2010 and December 2023. Inclusion criteria targeted studies in English or Arabic involving parents in GCC countries, excluding non-research publications and those not using survey techniques.

The review included 7 studies from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. No study was found in Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The findings highlighted low knowledge and awareness of HPV and the vaccine, with significant variation across studies. According to our review findings, the level of awareness in the 7 studies was found to be low to high. These studies collectively illustrate a range of awareness levels, from as low as 11% awareness of the HPV-cervical cancer link to as high as 68% general awareness of HPV. Attitudes towards vaccination were poor in Saudi Arabia but more positive in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Major barriers included safety concerns, lack of information, and cultural beliefs.

Despite moderate awareness in some GCC countries, substantial knowledge gaps and vaccine hesitancy persist. Targeted educational campaigns, effective communication strategies, and involvement of community leaders are essential to improve HPV vaccination uptake.