# P-1512. EXPLORING KNOWLEDGE AND BARRIERS TO HPV vaccination among mothers of 9-14 years old - A descriptive study in a tertiary care hospital

## TL;DR

This study explores mothers' knowledge and barriers to HPV vaccination for girls aged 9-14 in a hospital in Kerala, India.

## Contribution

The study identifies key barriers like safety concerns and high costs to HPV vaccine uptake among mothers.

## Key findings

- 91.4% of mothers showed good knowledge about the HPV vaccine.
- Safety concerns were the most common barrier, cited by 91% of respondents.
- High costs and infertility concerns were also significant barriers to vaccination.

## Abstract

Human papilloma virus is pivotal in preventing cervical cancer and other HPV related diseases.However uptake remains suboptimal, partly due to parental knowledge gaps and barriers.

Knowledge score in study population

This prospective descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Trivandrum, Kerala. A structured preformed questionnaire was administered to total of 268 participants who were mothers of girl children aged 9-14 years attending outpatient Pediatric department. The questionnaire assessed knowledge about HPV,the vaccine available for HPV and factors influencing vaccination.

Among the 268 study subjects, a significant majority,comprising 91.4% demonstrated a commendable level of understanding regarding the HPV vaccine. Various factors were identified as barriers to vaccination uptake, with safety concerns being the most prevalent, cited by 91% of respondents. Additionally a notable percentage (36.9%) expressed uncertainty regarding potential future infertility concerns linked to the vaccine, while 67.2% cited the high costs associated with it as a deterrent.Nevertheless an overwhelming majority (99.6%)acknowledged the indispensable role of vaccines in disease prevention.

The substantial knowledge observed within our study cohort can be credited to the statesman commendable literacy rates and the concerted efforts of governmental and non-governmental entities to fortify healthcare awareness.This study provides valuable insights about the gap in knowledge and measures to augment HPV vaccination rates among adolescents.

All Authors: No reported disclosures