To Consent or Decline HPV Vaccination: A Pilot Study at the Start of the National School‐Based Vaccination Program in Sweden

BACKGROUND: Parents' beliefs about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination influence whether they allow their daughters to be vaccinated. We examined the association between parents' refusal and sociodemographic background, knowledge and beliefs about HPV, and the HPV vaccination in relation to the Health Belief Model. METHODS: The sample consisted of 200 (55%) parents of children aged 11‐12 years in the Swedish national vaccination program. Data were collected using a self‐reported questionnaire. Most parents (N = 186) agreed to the vaccination. Pearson's chi‐square, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann‐Whitney U test were used to analyze data. RESULTS: Declining parents saw more risks and fewer benefits of HPV vaccination but no differences in beliefs regarding the severity or young girls' susceptibility to HPV were found. There was an association between refusing the HPV vaccine and lower acceptance of previous childhood vaccinations, and their main source of information was the Internet. Parents who declined the vaccine believed it could adversely affect condom use, the age of their daughter's sexual debut, and the number of sexual partners. CONCLUSION: Parents should have the possibility to discuss HPV and HPV vaccine with a school nurse or other health care professionals, and should have access to evidence‐based information on the Internet.