Shao-Kai Zhang1, Xiong-Fei Pan2, Shao-Ming Wang3, Chun-Xia Yang2, Xiao-Hong Gao4, Zeng-Zhen Wang5, Man Li6, Ze-Fang Ren7, Quan-Qing Zheng8, Wei Ma9, Fang-Hui Zhao3, You-Lin Qiao10. 1. Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Cancer Institute of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Hennan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Office for Cancer Control and Research, Zhengzhou, China. 2. Department of Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. 3. Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Cancer Institute of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. 4. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. 6. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 7. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. 8. Department of Public Health, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. 9. Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, China. 10. Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Cancer Institute of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. Electronic address: qiaoy@cicams.ac.cn.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine-related knowledge and factors associated with the knowledge among parents of young adolescents in China. METHODS: The study was based on data of a survey carried out in seven geographic regions of China. Parents of students in junior middle school were surveyed during parents' meetings. RESULTS: A total of 2895 parents were included in the analyses. Of parents, 38.3% responded with "yes" to more than three of the six knowledge questions, among whom only 4.5% of them correctly answered all six questions. Social benefit programs (41.3%), doctors and/or nurses (39.7%), and newspapers and/or magazines (36.5%) were selected as the top three sources of HPV-related knowledge. Mothers, parents who work in the health care sector, and parents with a higher annual income or with vaccination experience outside the expanded program on immunization showed a better knowledge base. Parents who consented to sex education for children or showed fear of cervical cancer were likely to have more HPV-related knowledge. In particular, the knowledge level of parents with prior consultation regarding HPV vaccines was higher. CONCLUSIONS: Parents of young adolescents in China possessed a low level of HPV vaccine-related knowledge. Findings highlight the need for tailored health education through different channels to improve HPV-related knowledge among parents.
PURPOSE: To investigate the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine-related knowledge and factors associated with the knowledge among parents of young adolescents in China. METHODS: The study was based on data of a survey carried out in seven geographic regions of China. Parents of students in junior middle school were surveyed during parents' meetings. RESULTS: A total of 2895 parents were included in the analyses. Of parents, 38.3% responded with "yes" to more than three of the six knowledge questions, among whom only 4.5% of them correctly answered all six questions. Social benefit programs (41.3%), doctors and/or nurses (39.7%), and newspapers and/or magazines (36.5%) were selected as the top three sources of HPV-related knowledge. Mothers, parents who work in the health care sector, and parents with a higher annual income or with vaccination experience outside the expanded program on immunization showed a better knowledge base. Parents who consented to sex education for children or showed fear of cervical cancer were likely to have more HPV-related knowledge. In particular, the knowledge level of parents with prior consultation regarding HPV vaccines was higher. CONCLUSIONS: Parents of young adolescents in China possessed a low level of HPV vaccine-related knowledge. Findings highlight the need for tailored health education through different channels to improve HPV-related knowledge among parents.