HPV vaccination hesitancy in Reunion Island

Abstract

Introduction: In Reunion Island (RUN), cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women and standardized mortality rate is 4.8 for 100 000 women. It is preventable by HPV vaccination, yet only 8.1% of girls aged <16 years old are fully vaccinated.

Objective: To determine factors related to HPV vaccination hesitancy in Reunion Island.

Study design: Between January and June 2017, general practitioners, midwives and liberal gynaecologists were invited by email to answer an online self-questionnaire. Questionnaires were also distributed to mothers who had daughters aged between 11 and 19 years old, in 2 middle schools in Southern Reunion. Data was collected using Google Form.

Results: 125 health professionals and 85 mothers answered the questionnaire. Knowledge about HPV infection was not sufficient. All people interviewed expressed concerns about HPV vaccination, because of auto-immune reactions, and lack of efficacy. Mothers felt insufficiently encouraged by their general practitioners to vaccinate their children.

Conclusions: In Reunion Island, lack of information and vaccination mistrust from parents as well as from caregivers, are the main factors contributing to low HPV vaccination coverage. Formations intended for caregivers and information campaigns of general population could play a role into raising vaccination coverage; school could enhance teenagers' awareness.

Keywords: HPV; Reunion Island; Vaccination hesitancy.