Volume 26, Issue 123, May 2022

Uptake of human papilloma virus vaccine and intention to vaccinate among women in Saudi Arabia

Alaa Sami Barhamain^1♦, Osama Mohammed Alwafi²

¹Preventive medicine resident doctor, Saudi board of preventive medicine, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
²Consultant of family and community medicine, Ministry of Health, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Preventive medicine resident doctor, Saudi board of preventive medicine, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: The burden of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is huge, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common STDs. Considerable cases of HPV progress to cervical cancer and result in worse morbidity and mortality consequences. This study aims to estimate the HPV vaccine uptake rate and identify possible associated factors among women in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. An online questionnaire was distributed between the 1st December 2021 and 1st January 2022 to collect data regarding participants HPV vaccine uptake, demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practices. Results: A total of 609 female Saudi residents with a median age of 33 participated in the study. The majority appeared to have insufficient knowledge about HPV infection vaccine. Only 3% have been vaccinated against HPV, moreover 64% of those who did not take the vaccine reported that they were unaware of the vaccine availability. However, 86.5% are intending to vaccinate their daughters. Certain factors seemed to be associated with vaccine uptake such as, being in healthcare career (p-value= .049) and having a sufficient knowledge about HPV infection (p-value<.001). Conclusion: The reported HPV vaccine uptake among the study participants is only reaching 3%, and the main reason is lack of awareness among the general population. Promoting health and increasing public awareness regarding HPV vaccine through healthcare practitioners and social media may contribute profoundly to the vaccine uptake.

Keywords: human papillomavirus; HPV; Vaccine; uptake; Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms189e2274

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i123/ms189e2274

Published: 23 May 2022