Evaluation of Knowledge and Attitude Toward HPV and Vaccination Among Medical Staff, Medical Students, and Community Members in Fujian Province

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the level of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related knowledge and vaccination willingness of people in Fujian Province, and to explore the factors influencing doctors’ recommendation of HPV vaccine.

Methods

We conducted two cross-sectional surveys in Fujian Province. The study cohort included 248 medical staff and medical students and 1001 community members. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the general demographics of the participants, along with their knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV and vaccination. Analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with willingness to vaccinate and willingness to recommend vaccination.

Results

The level of HPV knowledge in Fujian province was found to be low, but more than 80% of participants would like to accept HPV vaccine. Medical staff had a higher willingness to recommend HPV vaccine than students (OR= 4.696, CI: 2.698-8.175), which may be related to work experience and acceptance of vaccine price but not to knowledge level.

Conclusion

Knowledge of HPV in our community population appears to be lower than that in other regions in China. We suggest that a lack of knowledge may not be the main factor affecting the willingness to vaccinate, but we still needed to raise the level of knowledge about HPV to prevent misunderstandings. When the level of knowledge is high, education and per capita household income are not important factors influencing the willingness to vaccinate; only acceptance of vaccine prices significantly affects the willingness to vaccinate. Inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the national immunization program could help to alleviate public concerns regarding the vaccine to change present situation.

Keywords:

• perception
• HPV
• vaccine
• knowledge
• recommend

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Maternity and Children’s Health Hospital of Xianyou, Maternity and Children’s Health Hospital of Shaowu, Maternity and Children’s Health Hospital of Nanping, Maternity and Children’s Health Hospital of Shishi, Maternity and Children’s Health Hospital of Jinjiang, and Maternity and Children’s Health Hospital of Fuqing for helping with data collection.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.