Assessment of knowledge, attitude and barriers towards cervical cancer vaccination among Malaysian women

Abstract

Summary Introduction Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide after breast, colorectal and lung cancer. Though the vaccine for cervical cancer is available in Malaysia since 2010, yet the cancer rate among Malaysian women was recorded high. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and barriers towards cervical cancer vaccination among Malaysian women. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Klang Valley of greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used for the data collection. Results Out of 392 respondents, a majority (n = 376, 95.9%) have heard about cervical cancer. The results show that most of the participants had good knowledge and attitude towards cervical cancer vaccination. With respect to the knowledge of the participants, a greater proportion of them (n = 355, 90.6%) agreed that human papilloma vaccination can prevent cervical cancer. A majority (n = 373, 95.2%) of them also agreed that they will get the vaccine if their physician recommends. Despite the higher knowledge and attitude of the Malaysian women towards the cervical cancer vaccination, they are poor in practice as only (n = 151, 38.5%) participants of this study have received the free cervical cancer vaccine. Moreover, only 70.1% (n = 106) of those who were previously vaccinated have received the complete course of 3-doses of the vaccine. In respect of barriers to the vaccination, most of the participants (n = 186, 77.1%) were concerned about the price of vaccine followed by the unacceptance of vaccine by their family members and friends (n = 214, 88.7%). Conclusion Our study results found some crucial gaps in the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Malaysian women towards cervical cancer vaccination. The Malaysian government must emphasize on an outcome-based educational effort to encourage women to receive the vaccination irrespective of their age. Moreover, the health-care providers and social organizations must contribute to the efforts of government in bringing about a positive attitudinal change in the minds of Malaysian women helping them realize the importance of using HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.