Vaccine Misconceptions and Low HPV Vaccination Take-up Rates in Singapore.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

HPV vaccination in Singapore is voluntary and physician prescription-based. This study investigated the current status and intention for HPV vaccination among Singapore nurses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

All female nurses in a general hospital were given an anonymous questionnaire on HPV vaccination experience and intention of vaccinating their daughters. The influence of age, knowledge and perceived-risk of cervical cancer, and cultural background on mother's intention of vaccinating their daughters was analyzed.

RESULTS:

Of 2,000 nurses, 1,622 (81.1%) responded and analysis was performed on 1,611 with valid data. They showed good awareness on association of cervical cancer with multiple sexual partners (81.9%), history of sexually transmissible diseases (78.2%), and history of genital warts/HPV infection (73.5%), and on cervical cancer preventive effects of HPV vaccination (54.6%). The prevailing misconceptions of the vaccines were: investigational nature (38.9%), side effects (27.9%) and indicated for women at high risk for cervical cancer (20.5%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Misconceptions on the nature, role and safety of HPV vaccines low vaccine up-take rates and daughters. Dissemination of adequate and accurate HPV vaccine information and a review for school-based vaccination are needed for optimal delivery of HPV vaccines in Singapore.

• Authors: S K Tay, K C Tesalona, N Mohamed Rashid, E Y S Tai, S Mohd Najib
• Journal: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP (Asian Pac J Cancer Prev) Vol. 16 Issue 12 Pg. 5119-24 ( 2015) ISSN: 2476-762X [Electronic] Thailand
• PMID: 26163653 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Papillomavirus Vaccines

Topics

• Adult
• Attitude to Health
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Intention
• Middle Aged
• Mothers (psychology)
• Nuclear Family (psychology)
• Papillomaviridae (isolation & purification)
• Papillomavirus Infections (prevention & control, psychology, virology)
• Papillomavirus Vaccines (therapeutic use)
• Patient Acceptance of Health Care (statistics & numerical data)
• Prognosis
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (prevention & control, psychology, virology)
• Vaccination (psychology)