Abstract
Objective The aim of this study is to determine parents' knowledge levels and attitudes about
childhood human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and reveal the differences between
parents who are health care workers and nonhealth care workers. The HPV vaccine can
potentially prevent initial HPV infection and HPV-related genital and anal precancerous
disorders and cancers.
Methods Questions and attitudes toward childhood HPV vaccination were asked to 564 parents
who agreed to participate in the study.
Results In our study, the rate of health care worker parents considering having their children
vaccinated against HPV (63.1%) was higher than that of nonhealth care worker parents
(11.4%). Only 5% of parents had their children previously vaccinated against HPV;
however, there was no difference between parents who were health care workers and
those who were not. In addition, this rate was relatively low compared to other paid
vaccines (49.8, 35.3, and 18.8%, respectively). Parents who had not previously vaccinated
their children against HPV were considering getting their children vaccinated, especially
if a pediatrician recommended it.
Conclusion The parents' high level of health literacy may not be effective in deciding to vaccinate
their children against HPV. Therefore, adequate information and awareness should be
provided to all parents about HPV vaccination as early as possible for all children
of appropriate age. Pediatricians should be given important roles in raising the awareness
of parents about childhood HPV vaccination by health authorities.
Keywords
HPV - vaccination - parents - health literacy - health care workers
