The Predictors Influencing the Mothers Health Beliefs and Intentions Towards the Determination of their Daughter to be Vaccinated with the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in the Indigenous Communities, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Abstract

Since the integration of the HPV vaccine in the National Immunization Programme in 2017, little is known regarding Vincentian mothers’ health beliefs, attitudes and intentions. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection can cause cervical cancer however, this can be prevented with the HPV vaccine which is given to girls in grade 6. The study aimed to evaluate mother’s health beliefs, attitudes and intentions towards HPV vaccine administration to their daughter and factors involved with these intentions in Indigenous Communities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. An online-based community cross-sectional survey was conducted in the six main villages in the Indigenous Community from April to May 2020. The structured and pilot-tested questionnaire was distributed to 342 mothers who had a daughter age 7-11 years old who were not vaccinated with the HPV vaccine and the youngest daughter if the mother has more than one daughter in the age group. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used for data analysis to investigate factors associated with mothers’ intention. For health beliefs and attitudes, descriptive analysis was performed. Majority of the respondent had positive attitudes towards the HPV vaccine and for health beliefs there was a high susceptibility, severity and benefit towards HPV and the HPV vaccine among the mothers included there was a high (95.6%) maternal intention for their daughter to received the HPV vaccine, with 9 out of every 10 mothers agreeing to have their daughter be vaccinated in the future. The factors influencing the intention of vaccinating were the source of information-health professionals (AOR= 10.14, 95% CI= 2.88-35.60), high health beliefs (AOR= 3.35, 95% CI= 1.03-12.20), knowing women with cervical cancer (AOR= 5.05, 95% CI= 1.50-16.95), education- primary and secondary (AOR= 4.62, 95% CI= 1.31-16.24) and ethnicity- Indigenous (AOR= 4.13, 95% CI= 1.02-16.69), employed mothers (AOR=2.32, 95% CI =1.36- 3.96), and high level of knowledge towards HPV and HPV vaccine (AOR=2.27, 95% CI =1.25- 4.13), employed mothers (AOR=2.32, 95% CI =1.36- 3.96) were significantly associated with mothers’ health belief towards HPV vaccination (p-value<0.01). Health professionals are an important source of HPV and HPV vaccine, therefore, they must be knowledgeable with updated information to promote the HPV vaccination using a multifaceted and culturally sensitive approach among key populations to improve uptake. There will be the need for intervention to increase awareness and health education about HPV and the HPV vaccine by health professionals.