| Abstract [eng] |
Introduction. Human papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide and is associated with approximately 5% of all oncological diseases. Although vaccination against human papillomavirus is an effective measure that reduces the risk of cervical cancer and other human papillomavirus-related diseases, vaccination coverage remains insufficient in many countries, including Lithuania. Aim and objectives of the study. To assess and identify the factors contributing to the low human papillomavirus vaccination coverage among children in Lithuania. To achieve the study objective, we assessed parents’ knowledge about the human papillomavirus, their sources of information, and misconceptions regarding human papillomavirus vaccination. Methods. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous online survey. Data were collected from February to December 2025 using the Google Forms platform. The study population consisted of parents living in Lithuania with children aged 0–18 years. Data from 277 respondents were included in the analysis. The survey covered sociodemographic data, knowledge about human papillomavirus and vaccination, and sources of information. Statistical calculations were performed using the R Commander program (version 4.5.2). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test. A statistically significant difference between groups was considered at the p<0.05 level. Results. A total of 277 parents participated in the survey, of whom 85.56% were women and 14.44% were men. The majority of parents were aware of the main routes of human papillomavirus transmission, that it can affect both sexes, and that it can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. Knowledge about other human papillomavirus-related diseases was limited. Knowledge about vaccination was moderate: while most were aware of human papillomavirus vaccination funding and the optimal timing for vaccination, only about two-thirds knew that both boys and girls are vaccinated against human papillomavirus. Most parents had their children vaccinated or planned to vaccinate them against human papillomavirus (74.7%). The main reasons for refusal were concerns about vaccine safety, effectiveness, reliability, and the children's young age. It was found that childhood vaccination was significantly associated with parental education, COVID-19 vaccination status, participation in the cervical cancer prevention program, and better knowledge about human papillomavirus and vaccination (p<0.05). Conclusions. Human papillomavirus vaccination among children is significantly associated with parents’ education level, trust in immunization, participation in preventive programs, and knowledge level. Although general knowledge about human papillomavirus is sufficient, a lack of knowledge regarding vaccination for both genders and human papillomavirus-related diseases was identified, particularly among males. Declining vaccination rates are driven by distrust in the vaccine's safety, effectiveness, and reliability, as well as concerns regarding the young age of children. The level of information about human papillomavirus vaccination was found to be insufficient, so the provision of scientifically based information is necessary. |
