Human papillomavirus vaccine acceptability among female undergraduate students in China: the role of knowledge and psychosocial factors

Aims and objectives. To examine young women’s perceptions and acceptability ofhuman papillomavirus vaccination and factors influencing acceptability in main-land China.Background. In the light of current concepts, human papillomavirus vaccinesserve as new paradigms in cervical cancer prevention programme for youngwomen. However, knowledge and acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccina-tion and factors influencing acceptability among young Chinese women are notknown.Design. We implemented a cross-sectional descriptive study in the Hunan prov-ince of China.Methods. One hundred and seventeen female undergraduate students completedconfidential surveys in 2012. The questionnaire included five parts: backgroundinformation, awareness and knowledge of human papillomavirus vaccine andcervical cancer, attitudes towards the vaccine and intentions to be vaccinated,psychosocial burden of human papillomavirus infection, and human papillomavi-rus-related sexual stigma.Results. Only 44% of the participants were willing to be vaccinated in the future.Young women demonstrated low awareness and knowledge about human papillo-mavirus vaccine and cervical cancer. Their intention to receive future vaccinationwas associated with the high levels of knowledge about risk factors for cervicalcancer and perceptions that infected women are responsible for their own infec-tion of human papillomavirus.Conclusion. The results of this study suggest low awareness and knowledgeamong young Chinese women about the preventive nature and value of humanpapillomavirus vaccination. Social and cultural factors including moral obligationand STD-related stigma may influence young women’s intention to future vacci-nation.Relevance to clinical practice. Educational interventions are necessary to promotepublic awareness and deliver information about human papillomavirus vaccina-What does this paper contributeto the wider global clinicalcommunity?