This article was published in BMC-Public Health by Dan Wu from Nanjing Medical University and Jing Li from West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University and their teams. The study used a sequential mixed-methods approach with the objective to identify potential factors that lead to HPV vaccination delay among adolescent girls in China. The study found that Chinese caregivers delaying their children’s vaccination to wait for the 9-valent HPV vaccine is influenced by a combination of individual and contextual factors. Targeted health communication strategies are needed to accelerate HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents.
Factors affecting caregivers’ HPV vaccination decisions for adolescent girls: A secondary analysis of a Chinese RCT
This research, led by Prof. Jing Li from Sichuan University, in collaboration with Prof. Dan Wu from Nanjing Medical University, was published in PLOS ONE. Based on a randomized controlled trial conducted in Chengdu, China, the study investigated key factors influencing caregivers’ actions to vaccinate adolescent girls against HPV. The results highlighted the significant role of a novel “pay-it-forward” intervention in doubling HPV vaccine uptake. Other factors, including caregivers’ knowledge, intention to delay vaccination, occupational status, and prior vaccine refusal, were also strongly associated with vaccination behavior. Recommendations to promote universal and equitable access to HPV vaccine through targeted health education, financial support and community engagement.
