Awareness and Willingness of Mothers and Daughters for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Uptake – A Cross-sectional Study from Rural Community of Faridabad, Haryana

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer was ranked as the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. At present, four vaccines have been prequalified by the WHO, all protecting against human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18. Efforts are being made to scale up HPV vaccination for adolescent girls in India. However, awareness and acceptance among the community are lesser known. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine willingness to take HPV vaccine, factors affecting willingness, and potential barriers to vaccination among adolescent girls and mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice area of a tertiary care hospital of district Faridabad, Haryana, in North India on 186 females using an interview schedule. The sample was divided between 9- and 14-year-old adolescent girls (a), 15–29-year-old women (b), and ≥30-year-old women with a girl child (c). Females who had attained menopause were excluded from the study. All the study participants’ willingness to accept vaccine was noted after imparting education about preventive measures of cervical cancer and the vaccine available for its prevention. Results: Prior knowledge about cervical cancer was present in < one-fourth (22.7%) of the population and its knowledge about being preventable (15.2%) and availability of vaccine (16.1%) was even lower. After awareness session, the willingness to take vaccine for self was present in more than two-third of the population (68.3%) but was lower for vaccination of daughters among mothers (42.1%). Willingness to get vaccinated was observed to be higher among those with higher education, who are employed, belong to above poverty line and those with higher awareness. Unawareness about vaccine’s effect, parental permission, and fear of injections were the reasons for nonwillingness. Conclusion: Unawareness is present among adolescents. Parental permission in the community is important for any vaccination among dependent children and adolescents. Hence, awareness of mothers is also a key issue.