Perceptions and predictive factors of human papillomavirus vaccination behavior among parents of children aged 9–12 year
Keywords:
perceptions, vaccination behavior, cervical cancer, human papillomavirusAbstract
Cervical cancer is a significant global public health problem, primarily caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which can be prevented through HPV vaccination. However, vaccination coverage rates in many countries remain low due to various factors, including parental awareness, attitudes, and socioeconomic factors.
This study aimed to examine the perceptions and predictive factors of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination behavior among parents of children aged 9–12 years in Rasi Salai District, Sisaket Province, Thailand. A total of 442 parents of children aged 9–12 years were recruited through purposive sampling. The research instrument was a structured questionnaire divided into three sections: (1) demographic characteristics, (2) perceptions of HPV vaccination, and (3) HPV vaccination behavior. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were utilized for data analysis.
The results indicated that parents of children aged 9-12 years: 1) the majority had a high level of awareness regarding HPV vaccination; and 2) key predictors of parental HPV vaccination behavior included the number of children aged 9–12 years under their care, occupation, and perceptions of HPV vaccination. Together, these three variables accounted for 24.70% of the variance in vaccination behavior, with perception of HPV vaccination emerging as the most significant predictor (β=0.466, p<0.001).
Recommendations from this research included developing diverse and easily accessible communication channels to increase accurate awareness about cervical cancer among parents of children aged 9-12 years. This should be combined with developing appropriate support for parents in occupations with time constraints, as well as establishing a free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination policy to increase the vaccination rate among parents of children aged 9-12 years.
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