Parental gender influences their intention to HPV vaccinate their children, and the association between HPV and COVID-19 vaccination intentions

Emiko Oka; Yutaka Ueda; Asami Yagi; Yuri Ito; Yoshihiko Hosokawa; Takahiro Tabuchi; Tadashi Kimura

doi:10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100441

Parental gender influences their intention to HPV vaccinate their children, and the association between HPV and COVID-19 vaccination intentions

Vaccine X. 2024 Jan 20:17:100441. doi: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100441. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Authors

Emiko Oka^{1

2}, Yutaka Ueda¹, Asami Yagi¹, Yuri Ito², Yoshihiko Hosokawa³, Takahiro Tabuchi⁴, Tadashi Kimura¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
² Department of Medical Statistics, Research & Development Center, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2-7, Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-0801, Japan.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
⁴ Department of Cncer Epidemiology, Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69, Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-8567, Japan.

Abstract

Purpose: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased public awareness of infectious diseases and interest in vaccines, including the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. We investigated differences between parental gender and intentions to vaccinate their child for HPV and COVID-19.

Methods: We analyzed data from Japan's COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), a web-based cross-sectional survey of 2,444 respondents in 2021.

Results: Females were more knowledgeable and more afraid of HPV and COVID-19 than males. The proportions of females in favor of, or against, HPV vaccination was higher than among males. The fathers' intention for HPV vaccination was significantly associated with the child's gender, knowledge regarding HPV, and intention to inoculate with the COVID-19 vaccine. The mothers' intention was also associated with her knowledge of HPV and her intention to seek the COVID-19 vaccine, but it included a greater fear of HPV infection. Both male and female parents favored the COVID-19 vaccine over the HPV vaccine. Parents approving of COVID-19 vaccination believed in the overall efficacy of vaccines and were more receptive to opinions from the administration and physicians, even if the parent was currently against HPV vaccination.

Conclusions: Mothers were more knowledgeable about HPV and more favorable to vaccinate their child for HPV than fathers. The intention to have children COVID-19 vaccinated was also higher than for HPV vaccination. During this period of heightened public interest in vaccines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a good time to educate and inform the public about HPV.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; Fear; Gender; HPV vaccine; Parental intention; Vaccine hesitancy.