engleski

Factors associated with HPV vaccine hesitancy among young people in Croatia

Background: Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) was introduced in Croatia at the national level in 2016 while since 2007 it started in some parts of the countries. It is available for boys and girls and is free of charge. In 2020, the incidence of carcinoma of the cervix uteri was 10.7/ 100, 000 population. Methods: We analysed data on self-reported vaccination against HPV and vaccine hesitancy from the national-level cross-sectional bio- behavioural survey among people aged 18-25 years. Collected data were post-hoc weighted for age and sex distribution and adjusted for clustering effects using complex survey functions of STATA (v.17). Multivariable model examined the association between HPV-related knowledge and some other factors while controlling for socio- demographic variables. Results: The survey included 1210 persons, of whom 50.3% were women. Having been vaccinated against HPV was reported by 12.5% of men and 25.5% of women. Among 993 unvaccinated individuals, 61.0% of men and 50.3% of women reported that they did not want to get vaccinated against HPV. In multivariable analysis, men (adjusted odds ratio aOR = 1.71 95% CI: 1.25-2.35) and those who did not know that HPV infection is the main cause of cervical cancer in women (aOR= 1.71, 95% CI: 1.25-1.34) had higher odds of vaccine hesitancy. Significantly lower odds of vaccine hesitancy were associated with self-reporting economic status to be lower compared to others (aOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.30-0.81) and reporting more than five partners in lifetime (aOR = 0.70 95% CI: 0.49-0.99). Conclusion: We found low HPV vaccination coverage and high level of HPV vaccine hesitancy. Further work is required to increase HPV awareness among young people since better knowledge might lead to higher vaccine acceptance.

HPV ; HPV vaccine ; vaccine hesitancy

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