Factors associated with the attitudes of parents to vaccinate adolescents against human papilloma virus (HPV)

Introduction: This is a study that captures the parents' knowledge about HPV and the vaccine against it, and correlated with demographic and social factors. According to recent data, the HPV infection is the most common viral infection in worldwide. 40-70% of the population in Europe and USA, has been infected, while 200.00 people have died from this cause. Αim: The main objective of this study is to identify the knowledge, attitudes and factors affecting the attitude against the HPV virus and vaccination against strains implicated in cancer of the cervix. Methodology: The quantitative descriptive research conducted in the prefectures of Attica, Thessaloniki, Larissa, Magnesia, Ioannina, Achaia and Corinth. The sample of the study consisted of 592 parents regardless of age, sex themselves or their children. Data were collected via anonymous questionnaire and statistical analysis was performed with the statistical package SPSS 14.0. Results: The study sample consisted of 503 women (85%) and 89 (15%) men aged 30-45 most. 58% from the participants were in compulsory education level and 42% of them had higher education level. Of the total sample 84.4% lived in the city and 75.5% had a girl. Better informed about HPV virus appear parents residing in the city as opposed to those who live in the village (p = 0,007) and parents with girl as opposed to those without (p = 0.037). About the vaccine against cervical mainly living in urban areas of cancer are knowledgeable than those who live in villages (p = 0,036) and those with girl compared with those without (p = 0,022). They state that they have already taken the vaccine to their children more parents aged between 30-45 years (p = 0,022) and with good financial status (p = 0,007). As she gets older age of parent influence decreases the doctor may bring them to accept vaccination compared with younger parents (p = 0,002). Conclusions: Knowledge of parents increase as improved socioeconomic status of urban residents and parents of those with daughter and become more receptive to vaccinate their child.