Abstract:

Objective: The aim is to investigate the knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and behaviors of mothers of children in terms of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, its association with cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination. It is estimated that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide, and it is one of the most preventable diseases, according to World Health Organization reports. HPV vaccination rates are relatively minimal in Turkey. The lack of parental awareness of HPV infection is a possible most critical factor that drives vaccination rates. Methods: The study included 1,023 healthy volunteer women who had at least one child aged 11-18 years. A self-explanatory questionnaire comprising of 14 questions was designed to assess and compare maternal awareness and behavior regarding HPV infection and HPV vaccine. Results: The study showed that a majority of the responders (68%) were aware of cervical cancer, minor of them (<22%) were aware of HPV vaccination. Less than half (32.81%) of the parents were found to be willing to vaccinate their children against HPV infection. The primary reason for non-vaccination was a lack of knowledge and concerns about side effects. Conclusion: The current survey demonstrates that parents have a comparatively high level of knowledge about HPV and its association with cervical cancer; however, acceptance of vaccination is low. The study highlights the necessity of developing public education politics to achieve a deep awareness of parents about HPV vaccination in the community.

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