HPV Vaccination in Young Males: A Glimpse of Coverage, Parental Attitude and Need of Additional Information from Lombardy Region, Italy

Alessandra Mari, Laura Gianolio, Valeria Edefonti, Dariush Khaleghi Hashemian, Francesca Casini, Francesco Bergamaschi, Anna Sala, Elvira Verduci, Valeria Calcaterra, Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti and Valentina Fabiano
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Alessandra Mari: Department of Pediatrics, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20154 Milano, Italy
Laura Gianolio: Department of Pediatrics, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20154 Milano, Italy
Valeria Edefonti: Laboratory of Medical Statistics, Biometry and Epidemiology “G. A. Maccacaro”, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Dariush Khaleghi Hashemian: Laboratory of Medical Statistics, Biometry and Epidemiology “G. A. Maccacaro”, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Francesca Casini: Department of Pediatrics, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20154 Milano, Italy
Francesco Bergamaschi: Department of Pediatrics, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20154 Milano, Italy
Anna Sala: Department of Pediatrics, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20154 Milano, Italy
Elvira Verduci: Department of Pediatrics, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20154 Milano, Italy
Valeria Calcaterra: Department of Pediatrics, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20154 Milano, Italy
Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti: Department of Pediatrics, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20154 Milano, Italy
Valentina Fabiano: Department of Pediatrics, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20154 Milano, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: Background: In the Lombardy Region, Italy, HPV vaccination is recommended and offered free of charge to 12-years-old males since 2017. The expected vaccination thresholds are still far to be reached. Methods: A cross-sectional survey to investigate parents’ attitudes towards the HPV vaccine and knowledge about HPV was administered to parents of boys aged 6 to 18 years attending a large pediatric hospital for outpatient specialistic evaluations. Two parallel multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for attitude towards HPV vaccination and perceived need for more information about HPV vaccination. Results: A positive attitude towards HPV vaccination was found in 74% of interviewed parents. Knowledge of HPV, having a generally positive attitude toward vaccination, and mothers filling in the survey were positively associated with a positive attitude to the HPV vaccine. Parents’ perceived need for more information about HPV vaccination was positively associated with the child’s age, general positive attitude toward vaccination, Christian religion, and positive attitude toward HPV vaccination; knowing that HPV vaccination is free of charge significantly reduced the risk of asking for more information on HPV vaccination. Conclusions: The majority of parents of male children and adolescents in our study have a positive attitude toward HPV vaccination. Attitude toward HPV vaccination and perceived need for more information on HPV vaccination were directly related to a positive attitude toward vaccines in general. In addition, knowledge of HPV and related pathologies favors a positive attitude toward HPV vaccination. Future health programs should target an even wider diffusion of evidence-based information on vaccines in general and on the HPV vaccine in young males, to support a positive attitude toward vaccines in the general population.

Keywords: HPV; vaccination; males; pediatric practice; knowledge and attitude (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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