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HPV vaccination: what do Queensland parents think?

HPV vaccination: what do Queensland parents think? Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide and HPV DNA is found in virtually all invasive cervical cancers. The recent development of a safe and clinically effective vaccine against HPV is a significant step towards reducing cervical cancer rates in the future. Females between the ages of 9‐25 years, and potentially males of similar ages, have been identified as the target population for vaccination to reduce the prevalence and subsequent transmission of HPV in Australia. Success of the vaccine therefore depends on parents’ willingness to vaccinate their children and the impact of potential barriers to vaccination. The Queensland Cancer Risk Study was a statewide, cross‐sectional telephone survey of 9,419 Queensland residents aged 20‐75 years conducted in 2004. Almost 60% of survey respondents participated in a subsequent, self‐administered questionnaire that examined attitudes to specific cancer risks and cancer prevention activities in greater detail. Data presented here represent 2,165 residents (54.8% females) of Queenslanders younger than 60 years. Knowledge of the causes of cervical cancer was low in this sample, with only 7.8% of respondents identifying infection or HPV as a cause. Just over half of respondents (53.6%) stated they would be likely or extremely likely to have their children vaccinated against HPV. Almost one‐third (31.6%) of respondents were unsure about vaccination and the remaining 15% stated they would be unlikely to vaccinate their children. Likelihood of vaccination did not differ by knowledge of HPV, gender or geographical region (major city, inner regional, outer regional, remote). Overall, 38% of respondents indicated that having to pay for vaccination (based on a cost of $200) would reduce their likelihood of vaccinating their children. When examined separately, cost was a greater deterrent among those who were unsure about vaccinating than among those who were likely or extremely likely to vaccinate (see Table 1 ; χ (4)= 55.13, p <0.001). 1 Queensland adults’ attitudes towards having their children vaccinated against HPV. Overall likelihood of vaccination a n (%) Factoring in cost (about $200) b n (%) Extremely unlikely/unlikely 321 (14.9) Less likely 177 (55.1) More likely 6 (1.9) No difference 138 (43.0) Likely/extremely likely 1,160 (53.6) Less likely 348 (30.0) More likely 166 (14.3) No difference 646 (55.7) Unsure 684 (31.6) Less likely 299 (43.7) More likely 13 (1.9) No difference 372 (54.4) Notes: (a) How likely would you be to have your children (male and female) vaccinated? (b) Would you be more or less likely to have your children vaccinated if you had to pay for it (about $200)? This study provides a platform of baseline data against which future studies can compare attitudes and barriers to vaccination. These results suggest that most Queensland adults, at least at the time of this survey, did not understand the causes of cervical cancer, that a sizeable proportion were unsure about vaccination, and that a further proportion were unlikely to have their children vaccinated for HPV. While further work is needed to understand the potential barriers to vaccination, it is clear that ongoing and wide‐reaching public education about the benefits of the vaccine will be important to ensure a successful vaccination campaign. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Wiley

HPV vaccination: what do Queensland parents think?

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References (5)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
1326-0200
eISSN
1753-6405
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-842X.2007.00066.x
Publisher site
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Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide and HPV DNA is found in virtually all invasive cervical cancers. The recent development of a safe and clinically effective vaccine against HPV is a significant step towards reducing cervical cancer rates in the future. Females between the ages of 9‐25 years, and potentially males of similar ages, have been identified as the target population for vaccination to reduce the prevalence and subsequent transmission of HPV in Australia. Success of the vaccine therefore depends on parents’ willingness to vaccinate their children and the impact of potential barriers to vaccination. The Queensland Cancer Risk Study was a statewide, cross‐sectional telephone survey of 9,419 Queensland residents aged 20‐75 years conducted in 2004. Almost 60% of survey respondents participated in a subsequent, self‐administered questionnaire that examined attitudes to specific cancer risks and cancer prevention activities in greater detail. Data presented here represent 2,165 residents (54.8% females) of Queenslanders younger than 60 years. Knowledge of the causes of cervical cancer was low in this sample, with only 7.8% of respondents identifying infection or HPV as a cause. Just over half of respondents (53.6%) stated they would be likely or extremely likely to have their children vaccinated against HPV. Almost one‐third (31.6%) of respondents were unsure about vaccination and the remaining 15% stated they would be unlikely to vaccinate their children. Likelihood of vaccination did not differ by knowledge of HPV, gender or geographical region (major city, inner regional, outer regional, remote). Overall, 38% of respondents indicated that having to pay for vaccination (based on a cost of $200) would reduce their likelihood of vaccinating their children. When examined separately, cost was a greater deterrent among those who were unsure about vaccinating than among those who were likely or extremely likely to vaccinate (see Table 1 ; χ (4)= 55.13, p <0.001). 1 Queensland adults’ attitudes towards having their children vaccinated against HPV. Overall likelihood of vaccination a n (%) Factoring in cost (about $200) b n (%) Extremely unlikely/unlikely 321 (14.9) Less likely 177 (55.1) More likely 6 (1.9) No difference 138 (43.0) Likely/extremely likely 1,160 (53.6) Less likely 348 (30.0) More likely 166 (14.3) No difference 646 (55.7) Unsure 684 (31.6) Less likely 299 (43.7) More likely 13 (1.9) No difference 372 (54.4) Notes: (a) How likely would you be to have your children (male and female) vaccinated? (b) Would you be more or less likely to have your children vaccinated if you had to pay for it (about $200)? This study provides a platform of baseline data against which future studies can compare attitudes and barriers to vaccination. These results suggest that most Queensland adults, at least at the time of this survey, did not understand the causes of cervical cancer, that a sizeable proportion were unsure about vaccination, and that a further proportion were unlikely to have their children vaccinated for HPV. While further work is needed to understand the potential barriers to vaccination, it is clear that ongoing and wide‐reaching public education about the benefits of the vaccine will be important to ensure a successful vaccination campaign.

Journal

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health – Wiley

Published: Jun 1, 2007

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