HPV vaccination knowledge and recommendation behavior among healthcare workers and teachers in Ordos city: a across-sectional analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveTo understand the status and influencing factors of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination knowledge and recommendation behaviors among healthcare workers and teachers in Ordos city, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. MethodsUsing a typical sampling method and a self-designed questionnaire, we conducted an online survey among 415 healthcare workers and teachers recruited in one district and one banner of Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in July 2023. Participants′ information on knowledge of HPV and its vaccines, and beliefs about HPV vaccination based on the health belief model (HBM) were collected. Univariate logistic regression and unconditional multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the factors influencing HPV vaccination recommendation behavior. ResultsOf the 243 health care workers and 86 teachers ultimately included in the analysis, 201 and 56, respectively, had recommended HPV vaccination. The median of HPV knowledge score was 7 out of a total score of 11 for healthcare workers and 6 for teachers. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression model analysis showed that among healthcare workers, those with the following characteristics were more likely to recommend HPV vaccination: living in the banner (odds ratio [OR] = 17.042, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 2.778 – 104.544), having a higher HPV knowledge score (OR = 10.194, 95%CI: 3.076 – 33.778), having a higher HPV vaccination knowledge score (OR = 4.510, 95%CI: 1.451 – 14.015), having a higher score of perceived favorable factors for recommending HPV vaccination (OR = 17.492, 95% CI: 3.054 – 100.178), and having a high perception of susceptibility to HPV infection (OR = 100.407, 95%CI: 15.087 – 668.239); while those who were married were less likely to recommend HPV vaccination (OR = 0.050, 95%CI: 0.006 – 0.404); the teachers with high perception of susceptibility to HPV infection were more likely to recommend HPV vaccination (OR = 4.947, 95%CI: 1.322 – 18.516). ConclusionHealthcare workers and teachers in Ordos city had good knowledge of HPV vaccination. Region of residence, marital status, HPV knowledge, perceived favorable factors for recommending HPV vaccination, and perceived susceptibility to HPV infection were the main factors influencing the recommendation behavior of healthcare workers, while perceived susceptibility to HPV infection was the main factor influencing the recommendation behavior of teachers.

Keywords

• human papillomavirus
• vaccination
• health belief model
• healthcare workers
• teachers