Résumé
To evaluate knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, acceptability and interest level of UAE parents of adolescent girls with regards to HPV vaccines and cervical cancer. A cross sectional survey was conducted using 30 item self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated using the Delphi technique. Parents of adolescent girls were the target population. The schools in cities of Abu Dhabi, Al-Ain and Sharjah were randomly selected through Yellow Page telephone directory and the questionnaires were distributed to the parents of girls studying in grades 6 and 7. Each school was provided with 50 questionnaires to be distributed randomly amongst girl students. 28% of participants are Emarati nationals and 40% from other Arabic speaking countries. Paternal mean age is [43.0 +/- 9.7] and maternal mean age is [37.0 +/- 8.9]. Most of the parents have already heard about HPV vaccine [80%] although 88% of them would like to know more about HPV vaccine. 88% of them would like to know more about HPV vaccine. 89% of the participants want for their daughters to receive HPV vaccine and 48% of them think that recommendation by Ministry of Health is the most important factor for their acceptance of HPV vaccine. The most important concern was identified to be the 'duration at which vaccine give protection against cervical cancer'. Majority of the parents believe that vaccine would not increase risky sexual behaviors [57%]. 50% of the parents recommend the age of 10-15 years as the appropriate age for HPV vaccination. HPV vaccine is a recently introduced vaccine in UAE, majority of parents have already heard about HPV vaccine but would like to know more about it. Parents think that recommendation by Ministry of Health is the most important factor for their acceptance of HPV vaccination. Majority do not think that HPV vaccination would increase risky sexual behaviors. Overall parents are interested and have positive attitudes towards HPV vaccination