Barriers and facilitators to the HPV vaccine among mothers of adolescent girls: a qualitative study conducted in Trinidad and Tobago

ABSTRACT

Cervical cancer is a major public health problem in Latin America and the Caribbean and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may prevent thousands of cases of cervical cancer. The current study explored barriers and facilitators that affected the acceptance of the HPV vaccine by mothers of adolescents. This paper explores the qualitative findings from a larger mixed-methods study. Six focus groups were conducted (N = 33) throughout Trinidad and Tobago with mothers of adolescent girls. Three major themes emerged: a) cervical cancer and vaccine knowledge, b) barriers to uptake, and c) rephrasing the vaccine strategy. Data indicated that no widespread strategies to educate the population about the vaccine had occurred. Barriers to uptake of the vaccine were related to a lack of information on the efficacy and safety of HPV vaccines. Parents were unaware that the HPV caused cervical cancer. It is recommended that physicians and other health professionals be used to deliver targeted messages to parents and adolescents to improve uptake of the vaccine.

KEYWORDS:

• Barriers
• facilitators
• human papillomavirus vaccine
• qualitative
• Trinidad and Tobago

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the support of the Tobago House of Assembly, Roxborough Secondary School, The San Fernando General Hospital, Toco Composite School, The Point Fortin Borough Corporation, and the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society. These organizations allowed us to use their facilities to conduct our focus groups.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Caribbean Public Health Agency.