Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Acceptability Among Parents of 10- to 15-Year-Old Adolescents

Parents or guardians of adolescents, boys and girls aged 10 to 15 years, were recruited from a variety of medical and community sites to participate in a study of acceptance for the administration of a vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) to teenagers. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire about attitudes toward vaccines, health beliefs, knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccinations, and sociodemographic information. They were also questioned about their opinions of vaccines and the vaccine status of their family and given an educational fact sheet on HPV and the HPV vaccine. Five hundred six participants completed the survey and were included in the analysis. Knowledge of HPV did not seem to be a predictor of vaccine acceptance. Initially, there were no significant differences in the demonstration of understanding about HPV and its consequences between parents who did and who did not want the vaccine for their child. Attitudes toward vaccines, in general, were the strongest predictors of the acceptance of an HPV vaccine. Parents who wanted the vaccine for their adolescents were significantly more likely to believe that vaccines are effective in preventing disease, to feel that it is important for their children to receive all of their vaccines, to have no fear of vaccines, and to believe that vaccines are helpful (range of P values, 0.01 to <0.001). Approximately 85% of those who did and those who did not want the vaccine for their child indicated concern about the side effects of vaccines. The most important influences on parental acceptance of the HPV vaccine were a doctor’s recommendation and school requirements. Those who did not want the vaccines were much less influenced by doctors but more influenced by school requirements. Participants were asked to read an educational fact sheet about HPV and the HPV vaccine. Initially, 55% of parents indicated that they wanted the vaccine for their child, 23% did not, and 22% were undecided. After receiving the HPV information, 20% of those who initially did not want the vaccine and 65% of those who were undecided changed their minds and wanted the vaccine. After the intervention, 75% of parents wanted the vaccine, 25% did not, and 5% remained undecided (P <0.001 for change). After educational intervention, more parents who desired the vaccine, and those who were undecided believed the vaccine was safe (P <0.001), believed that the vaccine could prevent penile cancer (P <0.01), and did not believe the vaccine could cause HPV (P <0.001) than the parents who did not want the vaccine (compared with parents who were undecided (6%) or who wanted the vaccine for their child (8%). A greater percentage of parents who did not want the vaccine believed it would promote early sexual activity (23%) (P <0.03).