Up to 8 out of 10 parents in Slovakia have heard about Human Papillomavirus (HPV), but only less than a quarter have enough information about it. This results from a nationwide survey of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (MZ SR), which examined the level of HPV awareness, the perception of the risks associated with infection and the attitude towards vaccination against this virus.
HPV causes an infection that most people encounter during life. Some HPV types may lead to cancers in both sexes. For women, it is the most common case of cervical cancer, for which more than 600 women fall ill every year in Slovakia and more than 200 succumb to it. The good news is that we can prevent the development of cancer-related infection by early vaccination. says chief expert of MZ SR for pediatrics MUDr. Elena Prokopová.
Vaccination of girls and boys against HPV is most effective between 12 and 15 years of age when it is highly likely that they have not yet come into contact with the virus and at the same time their immune system can respond to the vaccine with the highest antibody production. At this age, vaccination is fully covered by health insurance. However, according to the results of the nationwide opinion poll, only this possibility is known. 60% of parents and up to 45% claims that not informed by a pediatrician.
The survey was carried out by FOCUS for MZ SR, which collected data on a sample of 1000 parents of children aged 9 to 15 years. This is part of the Ministry's involvement in the international PartnERship to Contrast HPV (PERCH), co-financed by the European Commission, and contributes to the implementation of the European Cancer Plan.
Basic findings of the survey:
- 80% parents heard of HPV, but only 23% stated that has sufficient information about it.
- Awareness is lower in parents less educated (62%) a from the lowest income group up to EUR 1 200 per month per household (68%).
- 8 out of 10 parents is aware of the existence of a vaccine against HPV.
- Up to 49% spontaneously did not know indicate what it protects against vaccination.
- Parents most commonly associate HPV with cancer (32%), vaccination (23%), and transmission of infection by sexual intercourse (13%).
- The most common source of information is for them pediatrician (34%), gynecologist (26%) or social media (19%).
5th parents declare that their child is vaccinated against HPV. 29% stated that this plan Do it. Quarter respondents stated that do not plan have their baby vaccinated against HPV and others quarter yet not determined.
The highest rate of unwillingness to have their child vaccinated, or a higher rate of indecision, was shown by a survey among the respondents from the lowest income group (up to €1,200), among parents who only know about HPV that it exists and among those who have not heard of HPV.
Of parents who refuse or hesitate to inject:
- 42% could not give any reason,
- 16% reported a lack of information;
- 11 percent are concerned about side effects,
- 6% do not consider it important;
- 6% declared bad references for HPV vaccination,
- 54% do not consider it effective.
The perception of the safety of vaccination increases with both the level of education and the level of household income. Between higher education considers vaccination safe 73%,between parents with graduation 60% and parents without graduation only 49%. In case of the highest income category (over €2 800) considered vaccination safe 75% Responders, the lowest income group (up to EUR 1 200) only Half.
The results of the survey also pointed to a number of persistent myths that may discourage parents from making their children's decision to vaccinate. Among the parents who do not want to have their child vaccinated is 30% believe that business for pharmaceutical companies. 21% The survey identified parents with the statement that HPV is treated with antibiotics. 15% agreed to the statement that: only women may be infected with HPV.
The results also show low awareness of the health risks associated with HPV infection, particularly in relation to men. Only 46% the parents agreed to claim that HPV can cause penile and anal cancer in men. An even lower proportion 26% – is aware of the relationship between HPV and the development of back throat cancer, including language base and tonsils.
Vaccination is effective and available prevention, but parents often do not use it simply because they do not have enough information or have not received it clearly. That's what we want to change, said Minister of Health Kamil Šaško. Therefore, MZ SR launches an information campaign aimed at getting the basic facts about HPV and vaccination directly into the paediatric clinics.
Our aim is to ensure that parents have access to clear and understandable information, right where they deal with their children's health issues, added the Minister.
As part of the campaign, in cooperation with the higher territorial units involved, we will distribute information labels with text We're vaccination against HPV-, stickers for children as an incentive element and infographics with practical and comprehensible information about HPV, health benefits of vaccination and how to have the child vaccinated. The campaign is co-financed by European funds for the PERCH project.