Introduction: This study investigated the awareness, perceptions, and acceptance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for children among parents in Hong Kong. It also explored factors associated with, and differences in, vaccine acceptance and hesitancy between parents of girls and boys.
Methods: Parents of boys or girls in Primary 5 to 6 were invited to participate in an online survey through an established health and lifestyle e-platform.
Results: Overall, 851 parents completed the survey: 419 (49.2%) had daughters, 348 (40.9%) had sons, and 84 (9.9%) had children of both genders. Parents who enrolled their children into the Childhood Immunisation Programme were more likely to accept HPV vaccination (79.7% vs 33.7%, odds ratio [OR]=7.70; 95% confidence interval [CI]=5.39-11.01; P<0.001); parents of girls were more likely to accept than parents of boys (86.0% vs 71.8%, OR=2.40; 95% CI=1.67-3.46; P<0.001). Among parents of girls and boys, the main reasons for HPV vaccination acceptance were prevention of cancers (girls: 68.8% and boys: 68.7%), prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (girls: 67.3% and boys: 68.3%), and optimal timing before initiation of sexual activity (girls: 62.8% and boys: 59.8%). Vaccine hesitancy was mainly associated with concerns about serious side-effects (girls: 66.7% and boys: 68.0%) and the belief that their children were too young (girls: 60.0% and boys: 54.0%).
Conclusion: Parents in Hong Kong are hesitant about HPV vaccination for their sons. This barrier could be removed by providing information to correct vaccine safety misconceptions and offering a gender-neutral vaccination programme through the school-based Childhood Immunisation Programme.
Keywords: Alphapapillomavirus; Hong Kong; Parents; Vaccines.