Associated factors to human papillomavirus vaccine adhesion in adult women: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The goal of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is the decline of HPV related premalignant lesions, leading to prevention of cervical cancer. Vaccination against HPV is recommended until the age of 45 to prevent viral reinfections and reactivations. The aim of this study was to evaluate adhesion to HPV vaccination and their associated factors in adult women. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in two tertiary hospitals, with a questionnaire distributed to women born between 1974 and 1992, from September till November 2019. Data collected included sociodemographic information, clinical information, knowledge about HPV, and the HPV vaccine and data regarding vaccine recommendation. Factors associated with vaccination were searched by bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: In 469 questionnaires, 25.4% (n = 119) women were vaccinated. The main reason for not vaccinating was the non-recommendation (n = 276; 70.2%). In bivariate analyses, vaccinated women were younger, predominantly not married, had higher educational level, and higher careers (P ≤ .001); an abnormal cytology, HPV infection or previous excision of the transformation zone were associated with a 3 to 4-fold increase in the odds of vaccination. Age, high-risk HPV infection, and knowing someone vaccinated remained factors independently associated with HPV vaccination in the multivariate analyses (P< .05). The recommendation of “vaccinate immediately” was independently associated with effectively doing it (P< .001). CONCLUSIONS: HPV vaccination is associated with vaccine recommendation, especially if it is recommended to do immediately. These results reinforce the need of health professionals to be aware of the impact that their recommendation has on adhesion to HPV vaccination.