Impact of Parental Knowledge and Beliefs on HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Kenya—Findings and Implications
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 prevalence and risk factors for HPV vaccine hesitancy among parents in Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional stud...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/8/1185 |
| _version_ | 1797407559423885312 |
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| author | Chester O. Kolek Sylvia A. Opanga Faith Okalebo Alfred Birichi Amanj Kurdi Brian Godman Johanna C. Meyer |
| author_facet | Chester O. Kolek Sylvia A. Opanga Faith Okalebo Alfred Birichi Amanj Kurdi Brian Godman Johanna C. Meyer |
| author_sort | Chester O. Kolek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 prevalence and risk factors for HPV vaccine hesitancy among parents in Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among parents with children aged 9–14 years attending a leading referral hospital in Kenya. Data on sociodemographic traits, HPV knowledge, beliefs and vaccine hesitancy were collected. Out of 195 participants, 183 (93.5%) were aged >30 years. Thirty-four (46.4%) of males and 39 (35.1%) of females did not know that the vaccine is given to prevent HPV infection. Encouragingly, levels of vaccine acceptance were high (90%) although one-third (37.9%) had a negative perception about the effectiveness of the vaccine, with vaccine hesitancy attributed to safety concerns (76%) and feelings that the child was too young (48%). Positive beliefs and knowledge of the vaccine were positively associated with parental willingness to vaccinate their children. Low levels of parenteral education and a younger age among mothers were negatively associated with willingness to vaccinate. Most parents (59%) would consult their daughters before vaccination, and 77% (<i>n</i> = 150) recommended early sex education. Despite low knowledge levels, there was high parental willingness to have their children vaccinated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:43:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46bd29fb45534465a6120c0e000140d1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:43:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-46bd29fb45534465a6120c0e000140d12023-12-03T14:36:30ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2022-07-01108118510.3390/vaccines10081185Impact of Parental Knowledge and Beliefs on HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Kenya—Findings and ImplicationsChester O. Kolek0Sylvia A. Opanga1Faith Okalebo2Alfred Birichi3Amanj Kurdi4Brian Godman5Johanna C. Meyer6Migori County Referral Hospital, Suna 40400, KenyaDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 00202, KenyaDepartment of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 00202, KenyaDirectorate of Pharmaceutical Services, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi 00202, KenyaDepartment of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UKDepartment of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UKDepartment of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South AfricaCervical 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 prevalence and risk factors for HPV vaccine hesitancy among parents in Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among parents with children aged 9–14 years attending a leading referral hospital in Kenya. Data on sociodemographic traits, HPV knowledge, beliefs and vaccine hesitancy were collected. Out of 195 participants, 183 (93.5%) were aged >30 years. Thirty-four (46.4%) of males and 39 (35.1%) of females did not know that the vaccine is given to prevent HPV infection. Encouragingly, levels of vaccine acceptance were high (90%) although one-third (37.9%) had a negative perception about the effectiveness of the vaccine, with vaccine hesitancy attributed to safety concerns (76%) and feelings that the child was too young (48%). Positive beliefs and knowledge of the vaccine were positively associated with parental willingness to vaccinate their children. Low levels of parenteral education and a younger age among mothers were negatively associated with willingness to vaccinate. Most parents (59%) would consult their daughters before vaccination, and 77% (<i>n</i> = 150) recommended early sex education. Despite low knowledge levels, there was high parental willingness to have their children vaccinated.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/8/1185willingnesshesitancyknowledgebeliefsHPV vaccinationparents |
| spellingShingle | Chester O. Kolek Sylvia A. Opanga Faith Okalebo Alfred Birichi Amanj Kurdi Brian Godman Johanna C. Meyer Impact of Parental Knowledge and Beliefs on HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Kenya—Findings and Implications Vaccines willingness hesitancy knowledge beliefs HPV vaccination parents |
| title | Impact of Parental Knowledge and Beliefs on HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Kenya—Findings and Implications |
| title_full | Impact of Parental Knowledge and Beliefs on HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Kenya—Findings and Implications |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Parental Knowledge and Beliefs on HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Kenya—Findings and Implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Parental Knowledge and Beliefs on HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Kenya—Findings and Implications |
| title_short | Impact of Parental Knowledge and Beliefs on HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Kenya—Findings and Implications |
| title_sort | impact of parental knowledge and beliefs on hpv vaccine hesitancy in kenya findings and implications |
| topic | willingness hesitancy knowledge beliefs HPV vaccination parents |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/8/1185 |
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