Are HPV Vaccines Well Accepted among Parents of Adolescent Girls in China? Trends, Obstacles, and Practical Implications for Further Interventions: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study

Background: In 2020, the WHO proposed the global strategic goal of accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer (CC). One of the key strategies is that, by 2030, 90% of girls will complete HPV vaccination by age 15. In 2017, HPV vaccines were first marketed in China. Objectives: This study aimed...

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Main Authors: Yu Huang, Jie Ling, Xiang Zhao, Qiaohong Lv, Lei Wang, Qingqing Wu, Shuiyang Xu, Xuehai Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Vaccines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/9/1073
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author Yu Huang
Jie Ling
Xiang Zhao
Qiaohong Lv
Lei Wang
Qingqing Wu
Shuiyang Xu
Xuehai Zhang
author_facet Yu Huang
Jie Ling
Xiang Zhao
Qiaohong Lv
Lei Wang
Qingqing Wu
Shuiyang Xu
Xuehai Zhang
author_sort Yu Huang
collection DOAJ
description Background: In 2020, the WHO proposed the global strategic goal of accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer (CC). One of the key strategies is that, by 2030, 90% of girls will complete HPV vaccination by age 15. In 2017, HPV vaccines were first marketed in China. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the changes in parents’ knowledge about CC, HPV, HPV vaccines, and acceptance of HPV vaccination 5 years after the introduction of HPV vaccines into China. Associated factors and reasons for refusal by parents were also explored. Methods: A school-based follow-up study was conducted among parents in China from May 2018 to May 2023. Comparison using Chi-square tests was performed to measure the changes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore factors associated with HPV vaccination among teenage girls. Results: The overall cognitive level in terms of CC- and HPV-related knowledge among parents increased, and they expressed more willingness to vaccinate their daughter (35.4% in 2018 vs. 56.6% in 2023). The HPV vaccination rate among teenage girls remained at a low level (4.4% in 2018, 9.8% in 2023). The main obstacles reported by parents were limited knowledge (42.0%), scarcity of the HPV vaccine (29.2%), waiting until their daughter was older (27.5%), safety concerns (14.7%), high cost (9.0%), and effectiveness concerns (4.6%). Parents who are elderly, local residents, have received HPV vaccines themselves, have had experience of vaccinating their children with influenza vaccines, and have a higher knowledge level of CC, HPV and HPV vaccines are more likely to vaccinate their children with HPV vaccines. Conclusions: Although we observed an increment in parents’ knowledge level in terms of CC, HPV, HPV vaccines, and HPV vaccine uptake over the past 5 years, the HPV vaccine coverage among girls still falls short of the WHO’s 2030 target. Comprehensive intervention strategies, including tailored health education among adolescents and their parents, doctor recommendations, and providing financial subsidies or free HPV vaccines are needed in China.
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spelling doaj-art-774c762bf2b34e73b042d161479b1f282025-08-20T01:55:57ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2024-09-01129107310.3390/vaccines12091073Are HPV Vaccines Well Accepted among Parents of Adolescent Girls in China? Trends, Obstacles, and Practical Implications for Further Interventions: A Five-Year Follow-Up StudyYu Huang0Jie Ling1Xiang Zhao2Qiaohong Lv3Lei Wang4Qingqing Wu5Shuiyang Xu6Xuehai Zhang7Department of Health Education, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, ChinaDepartment of Health Education, Jiaxing Center for Disease Control And Prevention, Jiaxing 314050, ChinaDepartment of Health Education, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, ChinaDepartment of Health Education, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, ChinaDepartment of Health Education, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, ChinaDepartment of Health Education, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, ChinaDepartment of Health Education, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, ChinaDepartment of Health Education, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, ChinaBackground: In 2020, the WHO proposed the global strategic goal of accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer (CC). One of the key strategies is that, by 2030, 90% of girls will complete HPV vaccination by age 15. In 2017, HPV vaccines were first marketed in China. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the changes in parents’ knowledge about CC, HPV, HPV vaccines, and acceptance of HPV vaccination 5 years after the introduction of HPV vaccines into China. Associated factors and reasons for refusal by parents were also explored. Methods: A school-based follow-up study was conducted among parents in China from May 2018 to May 2023. Comparison using Chi-square tests was performed to measure the changes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore factors associated with HPV vaccination among teenage girls. Results: The overall cognitive level in terms of CC- and HPV-related knowledge among parents increased, and they expressed more willingness to vaccinate their daughter (35.4% in 2018 vs. 56.6% in 2023). The HPV vaccination rate among teenage girls remained at a low level (4.4% in 2018, 9.8% in 2023). The main obstacles reported by parents were limited knowledge (42.0%), scarcity of the HPV vaccine (29.2%), waiting until their daughter was older (27.5%), safety concerns (14.7%), high cost (9.0%), and effectiveness concerns (4.6%). Parents who are elderly, local residents, have received HPV vaccines themselves, have had experience of vaccinating their children with influenza vaccines, and have a higher knowledge level of CC, HPV and HPV vaccines are more likely to vaccinate their children with HPV vaccines. Conclusions: Although we observed an increment in parents’ knowledge level in terms of CC, HPV, HPV vaccines, and HPV vaccine uptake over the past 5 years, the HPV vaccine coverage among girls still falls short of the WHO’s 2030 target. Comprehensive intervention strategies, including tailored health education among adolescents and their parents, doctor recommendations, and providing financial subsidies or free HPV vaccines are needed in China.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/9/1073HPV awarenessacceptanceHPV vaccineChinese adolescent girlscervical cancerparents
spellingShingle Yu Huang
Jie Ling
Xiang Zhao
Qiaohong Lv
Lei Wang
Qingqing Wu
Shuiyang Xu
Xuehai Zhang
Are HPV Vaccines Well Accepted among Parents of Adolescent Girls in China? Trends, Obstacles, and Practical Implications for Further Interventions: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
Vaccines
HPV awareness
acceptance
HPV vaccine
Chinese adolescent girls
cervical cancer
parents
title Are HPV Vaccines Well Accepted among Parents of Adolescent Girls in China? Trends, Obstacles, and Practical Implications for Further Interventions: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
title_full Are HPV Vaccines Well Accepted among Parents of Adolescent Girls in China? Trends, Obstacles, and Practical Implications for Further Interventions: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
title_fullStr Are HPV Vaccines Well Accepted among Parents of Adolescent Girls in China? Trends, Obstacles, and Practical Implications for Further Interventions: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
title_full_unstemmed Are HPV Vaccines Well Accepted among Parents of Adolescent Girls in China? Trends, Obstacles, and Practical Implications for Further Interventions: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
title_short Are HPV Vaccines Well Accepted among Parents of Adolescent Girls in China? Trends, Obstacles, and Practical Implications for Further Interventions: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
title_sort are hpv vaccines well accepted among parents of adolescent girls in china trends obstacles and practical implications for further interventions a five year follow up study
topic HPV awareness
acceptance
HPV vaccine
Chinese adolescent girls
cervical cancer
parents
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/9/1073
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