A survey of awareness and knowledge of human papillomavirus vaccination in schoolgirls and their parents / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

ABSTRACT

<b>Objective</b> To investigate the knowledge of cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination amongst vaccinated schoolgirls and their parents.<br><b>Methods</b> All schoolgirls age range 12 to 18 years who received HPV vaccination and their parents, answered a questionnaire concerning the knowledge of HPV, cervical cancer, and vaccine provision at nine primary care clinics in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.<br><b>Results</b> A total of 66 schoolgirls and 57 parents completed the questionnaire. A large proportion of the schoolgirls received information from their schools and their families regarding HPV. Many parents derived information about HPV from their local governments, television commercials, and their children's schools. Half of the schoolgirls were concerned about their decision to receive the HPV vaccination. Fifteen percent of them were hesitant to receive the vaccination because of the fear of pain. However, none of them were concerned about possible infertility or miscarriage. Fifteen percent of the schoolgirls and fifty-four percent of the parents acknowledged that cervical cancer is caused by HPV. Forty-one percent of the schoolgirls and seventy-nine percent of the parents reported that cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted infection. Twenty-one percent of the schoolgirls and sixty-three percent of the parents knew that a medical examination exists for detection of cervical cancer, whereas seventy-one percent of the former and ninety percent of the latter reported that the schoolgirls should receive an appropriate medical examination.<br><b>Conclusion</b> Currently, schoolgirls' knowledge of the HPV vaccine in the Gifu area of Japan is inadequate and therefore, it is imperative to provide better healthcare education.