Parental willingness to vaccinate daughters against human papillomavirus and associated factors in Injibara Town, Northwest Ethiopia
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is currently recommended as prevention strategy for cervical cancer. Parental permission is significantly important to increase HPV vaccination coverage among target daughters. This study aimed to assess parental willingness to vaccinate daughters against human papillomavirus and associated factors in Injibara town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2025. A Community-based cross-sectional convergent mixed-methods study was conducted from February 20 to March 20, 2025. For quantitative and qualitative studies, 403 and 12 participants were recruited using simple random and purposive samplings, respectively. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire tool was used to collect quantitative data. Multi-variable binary logistics regression was employed to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. An adjusted odd ratio with the corresponding 95% confidence interval was used to measure strengths of associations and statistical associations were declared at p-values less than 0.05. Qualitative data were collected using topic guide by in-depth interview technique and were coded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically. The overall parental willingness to vaccinate daughters against HPV was found to be 75.7% (95% CI: 71.2%-79.9%). Daughters’ perceived health status (AOR = 4.51, 95% CI: 2.25-9.00), childhood vaccination (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.19–3.53), knowledge on HPV (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.18–4.37), and attitude (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.23–3.77) were factors associated. Misconceptions on vaccine side effects, information gaps and limited access to additional vaccination sites were barriers of willingness to vaccinate daughters. Approximately three-quarters of parents were willing to vaccinate daughters against HPV which is moderately promising compared with other findings. Daughters’ perceived health status, childhood vaccination, knowledge, and attitude on HPV were significantly associated factors. Qualitative study complemented these findings by revealing misinformation like fear of infertility, inadequate knowledge, and limited access to vaccine sites outside of school-based programs as barriers. The results collectively suggest that parental willingness to vaccinate daughters against HPV could be enhanced through improving parental attitudes and knowledge, addressing myths through reliable means of communication, and expanding vaccination sites outside of school settings.