Vaccine Misconceptions and Low HPV Vaccination Take-up Rates in Singapore

Background: HPV vaccination in Singapore is voluntary and physician prescription-based. This studyinvestigated the current status and intention for HPV vaccination among Singapore nurses. Materials and
Methods: All female nurses in a general hospital were given an anonymous questionnaire on HPV vaccinationexperience and intention of vaccinating their daughters. The influence of age, knowledge and perceived-risk ofcervical cancer, and cultural background on mother’s intention of vaccinating their daughters was analyzed.
Results: Of 2,000 nurses, 1,622 (81.1%) responded and analysis was performed on 1,611 with valid data. Theyshowed good awareness on association of cervical cancer with multiple sexual partners (81.9%), history ofsexually transmissible diseases (78.2%), and history of genital warts/HPV infection (73.5%), and on cervicalcancer preventive effects of HPV vaccination (54.6%). The prevailing misconceptions of the vaccines were:investigational nature (38.9%), side effects (27.9%) and indicated for women at high risk for cervical cancer(20.5%).
Conclusions: Misconceptions on the nature, role and safety of HPV vaccines low vaccine up-take ratesand daughters. Dissemination of adequate and accurate HPV vaccine information and a review for school-basedvaccination are needed for optimal delivery of HPV vaccines in Singapore.