Human Papilloma Vaccination Hesitancy Among Parents With 10-14 Years In Athi River Sub-County Machakos County

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer can be prevented by human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. However, parents can have concerns about vaccinating their daughters. Consequently, there is a need to identify factors associated with vaccine hesitancy among adolescent females aged 10-14 yrs. The study used a descriptive cross sectional study design research, conducting in-depth interviews with parents of eligible children to gain a comprehensive understanding of their views on the vaccine within the community living in Athi River Sub-County.

Material and Methods: This study used descriptive cross-sectional approach. The Chi Square formula t-test and correlation analysis was utilized to generate study respondents for this study. Single stage sampling was employed in this study to recruit study respondents. The cut off for statistical significance was p≤0.05.

Results: Data on sociodemographic traits females were 110(71.9%) and males 43(28.10%), education level 80(52.3%) were from college, 64(40.52%) employed and religion 128(83.66%) were Christian, Muslim 18(11.76%)Buddhist 0(0.00%) and African church 7(4.58%). HPV knowledge, attitude, beliefs and vaccine hesitancy were collected. Out of 153 participants, 74(48.37%) were aged 31-40 years. Source of information was media whereby 52 (34.0%%) were females while 34(22.2%) were males. Most of the parents are moderately familiar with the HPV vaccine 68(44.4%), Factors like necessity, effectiveness, financial concerns, daughter's age, and healthcare professionals' opinions were found to influence parental decision-making regarding HPV vaccination.

Conclusion: Findings revealed that a notable majority of parents expressed confidence in the vaccine's effectiveness, perceived the accessibility of HPV vaccination services as substantial, and regarded healthcare providers' recommendations as pivotal. Societal stigmas or misconceptions about HPV and its vaccine were seen as barriers, along with concerns about vaccine safety and financial barriers. Educational campaigns and outreach efforts were considered influential, while lack of awareness or knowledge about HPV and its vaccine was perceived as a significant barrier. To address vaccine hesitancy and improve HPV vaccination rates, targeted interventions are needed. These interventions should focus on providing accurate information to address safety concerns and misconceptions, fostering trust in healthcare providers.