Level of awareness on cervical cancer and parental willingness towards its vaccination among mothers in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

In Pakistan, the uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines is low due to a lack of information, social barriers, and misperceptions. This study seeks to investigate the mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and parental willingness to accept HPV-based cervical cancer vaccinations in Lahore, Pakistan.  A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and the data were collected from 300 mothers who have at least one daughter between the ages of 9 and 14 years. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect the information about socio-demographics, knowledge, attitude, and parental willingness to receive HPV vaccinations. The study highlights that there is a need to increase mother awareness and wipe out social stigma about HPV vaccination in Pakistan. The policymakers ought to focus on the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the national immunization programs, ensuring equal access and inviting the community to engage. The benefits of reinforcing these measures can significantly minimize the burden of cervical cancer and achieve global health goals of its elimination.