Factors Associated With Parental Willingness to Vaccinate Daughters Against Human Papillomavirus in Peru

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, yet human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination—the most effective method of prevention—faces variable uptake and acceptance. This study addresses the problem of suboptimal HPV vaccination by examining the factors associated with parental consent for HPV vaccination of adolescent girls in two distinct Peruvian cities, the capital city of Lima and a large city in the Peruvian Amazon, Iquitos. Cross-sectional survey data were collected in 2017 from 986 women attending public health centers, and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior model was applied to categorize behavioral factors associated with women’s willingness to vaccine their daughters for HPV. Overall, 90.1% of women reported willingness to vaccinate their daughters, with higher support in Iquitos (94.2%) than in Lima (84.7%). Women who were willing to vaccinate tended to be younger and were more likely to believe the vaccine was safe (Capability), know that it was free and be willing to pay for it (Opportunity), and know someone who had been vaccinated (Motivation). This study contributes to the literature on parental willingness to vaccinate daughters against HPV in a Latin American context applying a validated behavioral framework. Findings provide insight into psychosocial and contextual factors associated with self-reported parental willingness to vaccinate daughters against HPV. The results have implications for public health research and practice by identifying modifiable barriers and facilitators that can inform targeted vaccine promotion strategies in Peru and similar settings, particularly in informing future vaccine promotion strategies in contexts where vaccine confidence may have shifted following the COVID-19 pandemic.