Acceptance and Associated Risk Factors of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Among Parents of Daughters in Intermediate Schools in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Women in Saudi Arabia have little knowledge of cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and its vaccine. This study assessed the acceptance, barriers, and facilitators of HPV vaccination and its associated factors among parents of daughters in intermediate schools during the academic year September 2022-June 2023 in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the barriers and facilitators of HPV vaccination and its associated factors among parents of daughters in intermediate schools in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. This was an analytical community-based cross-sectional study that targeted 947 parents of girls older than 15 in intermediate schools in Tabuk City. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data using a web-based survey. The knowledge about HPV and its vaccine in mothers was 1.627 times higher than in fathers, mainly when employed, highly educated, aged <40 years, and earning a higher income. In addition, the Saudis' knowledge of HPV and its vaccine was 1.275 times higher than non-Saudis. The HPV vaccine acceptability among mothers was 1.259 times higher than the fathers, especially when non-employed, aged <40 years, and with higher income. The parent who knows the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer accepts the vaccine 1.794 times higher than those who ignore this relationship. On the other hand, the Saudi's acceptability of the vaccine was 0.671 times lower than non-Saudis.