PARENTS' SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF HPV VACCINATION IN SCHOOL - AGED CHILDREN

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and the leading cause of cervical cancer. Parents’ knowledge about HPV infection and vaccination plays a crucial role in decision-making regarding childhood immunization. The aim of the study was to examine parents' self-assessment of their level of knowledge regarding HPV infection and HPV vaccination among school-aged children, and to determine the association between sociodemographic characteristics and the level of knowledge.

Material and methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 101 parents of children aged 9–14 years in the city of Prijedor. Data were collected using an original questionnaire distributed through the snowball sampling method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, applying descriptive statistics and the chi-square test.

Results. The majority of respondents (91.1%) reported having heard of HPV. No statistically significant association was found between respondents’ gender and awareness of HPV infection (p=0.808). A statistically significant association was observed between educational level and HPV-related knowledge (χ2=23.909; p<0.001), with higher-educated respondents demonstrating better awareness. Place of residence was significantly associated with knowledge that HPV vaccination is provided free of charge for school- aged children (χ2=12.340; p=0.015), with urban residents being more informed. Furthermore, a significant association was identified between educational level and sources of information about HPV vaccination (χ2=18.5; p=0.005).<0,001), pri čemu su ispitanici sa višim nivoom obrazovanja bili bolje informisani. Takođe, mjesto stanovanja bilo je značajno povezano sa znanjem o besplatnoj HPV vakcinaciji za djecu školskog uzrasta (χ2=12,340; p=0,015), pri čemu su ispitanici iz urbanih sredina češće posjedovali ovu informaciju. Postojala je i statistički značajna povezanost između stručne spreme i izvora informacija o HPV vakcini (χ2=18,5; p=0,005).

Conclusion. Parents of school-aged children demonstrate a high level of general awareness about HPV infection; however, significant differences in knowledge exist according to educational attainment and place of residence. The findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions aimed at parents with lower educational levels and those living in rural areas in order to improve awareness and increase HPV vaccination coverage.