Factors influencing mothers’ intention to vaccinate their elementary school sons against human papillomavirus

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing mothers’ intention to vaccinate their elementary-school sons against human papillomavirus (HPV). Methods: The participants were 151 mothers of fourth- to sixth-grade boys at three elementary schools in Daejeon, Korea. The data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 25.0. Descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, the Mann–Whitney U test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis were used. Results: The mothers’ score for intention to vaccinate their sons against HPV was 5.04 out of 7. Self-efficacy (β=.60, p<.001) and subjective norms towards HPV vaccination (β=.30, p<.001) were significant factors influencing mothers’ intention to vaccinate their elementary-school sons against HPV. These factors accounted for 81.0% of HPV vaccination intention among mothers (F=160.84, p<.001). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that to increase the HPV vaccination rate for elementary-school boys, it is necessary to develop intervention strategies to improve mothers’ self-efficacy and subjective norms towards HPV vaccination and to verify the effects of those strategies. This research provides a foundation for designing interventions to increase the HPV vaccination rate of elementary-school boys.