We conducted a brief review of scientific articles published from 2012 to 2022 to see how the perceptions and attitudes towards HPV vaccination in Romania varied. According to the materials found, over the last decade, awareness of HPV and its vaccine has generally increased in Romania. However, the level of knowledge and the quality of information varied. Misconceptions, fueled in part by media and pseudoscientific sources, persisted. This led to hesitancy and low vaccination rates, even among those aware of HPV. The role of medical professionals was consistently highlighted as crucial for disseminating accurate information and influencing positive attitudes towards HPV vaccination.
Evolution of Attitudes Towards HPV Vaccination in Romania (2012-2022):
The sources used for the analysis above:
Results show as main reasons for not vaccinating their daughters perceiving the vaccine as risky, the belief that the vaccine represents an experiment that uses their daughters as guinea pigs, the belief that the vaccine embodies a conspiracy theory that aims to reduce the world's population and general mistrust in the ineffective health system. Mothers stated they would need clear, factual information about the HPV vaccine and its link to cervical cancer in order to motivate them to accept it for their daughters.
Twenty discussion forums, with a total sample size of 2,240 comments (2007–2012), were included.
Findings highlight ways in which views about the vaccine are embedded in broader perspectives about science, the national medical system, society development and economic inequality.
Content analysis of 271 media reports (from newspapers, magazines, videos and informational websites) published online between November 2007 and January 2012. Overall, results indicated that
The most dominant vaccine-related concerns were side effects and insufficient testing. Elementary information about the vaccine and HPV was constantly left out and sometimes inaccuracies were found. Negatively disposed reports were more likely to contain incorrect data about vaccine efficacy and less likely to provide comprehensive information about the vaccine and HPV-related diseases. Some dimensions of media coverage varied across time and media outlets. The present findings suggest that educational interventions are greatly needed as a response to suboptimal and incomplete media coverage of HPV vaccination.
A total of 524 adolescents aged 16–18 years old were recruited from the first two general highschools in Bucharest (according to the admission grade) and completed a self-administered questionnaire including demographics, HPV related and Papanicolau smear test knowledge
Of the adolescents interviewed, a very small proportion had heard of HPV infection, HPV vaccine and Papanicolau smear test, that is, 20.22%, 67.92% and 22.9%, respectively. The overall vaccination rate for this group was 2.3%. The most common reason for not receiving the HPV vaccine was the lack of information (80.6%) followed by parents’ concerns regarding safety (11%), fear of pain (5.59%) and not being sexually active (2.7%). However, 97.7% of the respondents declared interest in receiving more information about HPV.
69.2% of women were aware about HPV but their knowledge was minimal and incomplete. While 62.3% had heard about HPV vaccine, only 50.7% had a positive attitude toward it. The main barriers to vaccination were the fear of side effects, the perception that is risky, and the financial concerns. Deficiencies in knowledge were noted for vaccine, genital warts, or risks factors for HPV infection like the early onset of sexual life. The information regarding HPV and vaccine is not always accurate and complete, and only 50.7% of women have a positive attitude toward the vaccine.
Among the participants (n = 120), knowledge of HPV, HPV vaccine, and cervical screening was good. Most respondents were aware of the causal relationship between HPV and cervical cancer (83.3%), the sexual transmission of HPV (81.6%), and its asymptomatic nature (68.3 %). The women with a high knowledge score were more likely to have attained a high educational level, to work in the healthcare system, and to consult more health information sources. A major role in deciding to get the vaccination was the physician (gynaecologist or general practitioner) who proposed the vaccination and explained the importance of being immunized with the HPV vaccine.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 24.1%. One-third of the investigated population had expressed VH, and a further one-third of these had refused a vaccine for their child. Chicken Pox, Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), and HPV vaccines generated the most hesitation. Negative information from the media was the most frequently evoked reason for VH.
1122 responders were interviewed; mean age 36.39 ±10.7 years (limits: 19–62), majority women, 999 (89.04%), and from urban areas, 930 (82.89%). Most of the participants in the survey (684 (60.96%)) had university and post-university studies, and 459 (40.91%) participants were related to the medical domain.
Out of the 666 parents, only 67 (5.97%) parents were themselves vaccinated against HPV, and 91 (8.11%) had the intention to vaccinate themselves against HPV in the future. The participants with children eligible for HPV vaccination had one, two, three, or even four children. Altogether, there were 609 children, but 303 were aged 9 to 15 years. Out of these 303 children, 75 (24.75%) children were HPV vaccinated: 69 girls and 6 boys.
The Romanian population is very confused when it comes to the importance of the HPV vaccine. Although the majority of interviewed Romanians are aware of HPV and related cancers (1023 (91.18%)) and believe that the HPV vaccine poses no risk (823 (73.35%)), only 324 (28.88%) received their HPV information from the medical doctors, and only 118 (10.51%) are HPV vaccinated.
Awareness on HPV infection:
Awareness on HPV vaccination:
Optimal administration age opinions
Overall, there was a very low level of knowledge among students and their parents regarding the clinical signs, methods of transmission, infection site, infection consequences, risk factors and prophylaxis of HPV infection.
Very few respondents sought information from their general practitioner or HPV specialist, at the same time considering that accurate information about HPV should be provided by physicians and healthcare professionals.
Overall, the HPV vaccination barriers in Romania are related to:
References