C9
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination: an exploratory study of the views of the first cohort of vaccination aged girls [12-13 years old]
Alison Clements, Joan Austoker
University of Oxford, UK
Background
Cervical cancer is caused by persistent genital HPV infection with a high-risk (oncogenic) type. Two vaccines have been developed protecting against HPV types 16 & 18, together responsible for approximately 70% of all cervical cancers. In the UK in September 2008, a national school-based vaccination programme was introduced to offer the HPV vaccine Cervarix to all girls aged 12-13. It was not known how the vaccine would be received, or what barriers to uptake may exist. A 3 year study, funded by Cancer Research UK, was established to develop key, evidence based messages, relevant to the public and health professionals in decision making about HPV vaccination. The data presented here are from an interview series with vaccination aged girls, to establish understanding of the vaccination, identify misapprehensions, and determine how decisions to undergo vaccination were made.
Method
Girls were recruited from one single and two mixed sex schools, with broad catchment areas. 35 interviews were completed; analysis was undertaken using the Framework approach.
Results
An instinctive desire for the vaccination was described by most girls. Any hesitation related to the anticipated pain of the injection, and was overcome by the fear of a terminal illness. Very few girls had an understanding of the link between HPV and cervical cancer, most had not known such a cancer existed, and few had thought about what they were being injected with. While interested in such discussions during interview, none felt such understandings would have affected their decision, as it was generally believed that cancer would be an inevitable result of not undergoing the vaccinations.
Conclusion
The understandings held by girls about cervical cancer, and the vaccination programmes were limited; the decisions of many were driven by inaccurate assumptions of the risk of cervical cancer. Much work can be done to portray information in a straightforward, interesting style to ensure girls are accepting the vaccination with a full and accurate grasp of the issues.
