What is it about?
This study looked at different factors that influence the HPV vaccination of daughters by parents. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective in the prevention of cervical cancer. However, HPV vaccine uptake remains low even when it is available. One contributor includes parental refusal, as they must consent for their underage daughters. Parents who are knowledgeable about the HPV vaccine and who have access to cervical cancer screening are more likely to consent to their daughters' vaccination.
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Why is it important?
This paper provides evidence from a low-resource setup, with only about 54% of parents consenting to their daughter's vaccination. Strategies to increase parental knowledge should be considered to ensure favourable decision making and high vaccine uptake by daughters.
Perspectives
Understanding attitudes towards the HPV vaccine in a region heavily burdened with cervical cancer elimination is timely so that some cancer-related deaths can be prevented. National programs focusing on cancer prevention should include ongoing sensitisation and education.
Mwansa Ketty Lubeya
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Zambia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Correlates of Parental Consent to Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake by Their Adolescent Daughters in ZAMBIA: Application of the Health Belief Model, Vaccines, April 2023, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11050912.
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