Parental Knowledge of HPV Infection, Cervical Cancer and the Acceptance of HPV Vaccination for their Children in Jos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Despite the high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and cervical cancer in Nigeria, the utilization of the HPV vaccine as a highly effective preventive measure remains low. The aim of this study was to find out if parental knowledge of HPV infection and cervical cancer influenced the acceptance of HPV vaccines for their 9-14-year-old children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey of 509 parents comprising 262 fathers and 247 mothers in 8 randomly selected communities in Jos, Plateau State Nigeria. A pretested semi-structured investigator-administered questionnaire, without identifiers, was used to collect information on parental knowledge of HPV, cervical cancer, HPV vaccine and its acceptance for their 9-14-year-old children. The data were analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Bivariate analysis was done using chi-square statistical test. Point estimates with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated with a value of P ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS: Five hundred and nine parents were interviewed. The mean age of the respondents was 43.7 ± 9.43 years. Most of the participants (86.1%) had formal education from primary to tertiary level. Only 1.60%, 11.60% and 1.62% of respondents had knowledge of HPV, cervical cancer and HPV vaccines respectively, whereas 67.8% of parents were willing to pay for the cancer-preventing HPV vaccines out-of-pocket. There was no statistically significant associations between parental level of education ( P = 0.056), parental knowledge of cancer of cervix ( P = 0.483), religion of parents ( P = 0.324) and the acceptance of HPV vaccination for their children. There was a statistically significant association between parental willingness to pay for HPV vaccines if not offered free ( P = 0.001) with acceptance of vaccination. Vaccine acceptability was associated with positive attitude towards the vaccine (odds ratio [OR] = 4.178; 95% CI, 1.714-10.180; P = 0.002), whereas parental knowledge of HPV, cervical cancer and HPV vaccine did not show significant association with acceptability of HPV vaccination for their children.

CONCLUSION: Despite poor parental knowledge of HPV infection and cervical cancer, there was high acceptability of HPV vaccination for their children. HPV vaccination was acceptable to parents regardless of educational level or religion. Parents in Jos communities seems to have much faith in preventive vaccines as advertised by the health authorities. Accordingly, efforts should be geared towards ensuring availability, affordability and the provision of basic information regarding HPV vaccination in Northern Nigeria.