Young women’s decision-making process for HPV vaccination

ObjectivesTo explore young women’s decision-making process for HPV vaccination and to identify their beliefs about HPV vaccination.MethodsThis study employs a qualitative design. Data was collected by audio-taped interviews with 16 HPV vaccinated Swedish women, 17–26 years old. The data was analysed using latent content analysis.ResultsThree themes emerged from the data: “Fear of cancer”, “Reliance on vaccination” and “Mother – the main motivational factor”. One of the major reasons for taking the decision to be HPV vaccinated was fear of cancer: vaccination was seen as a way to protect oneself against this. The young women’s decision-making surrounding HPV vaccination was based on reliance on vaccination and trust in health care. Support from the mothers of the young women and mothers’ sponsorship of costs initiated HPV vaccination. Other motivational factors were advertisements and friends. Despite having been vaccinated, the young women were unaware of the relation between cervical cancer, sexual behaviour and HPV.ConclusionThese HPV vaccinated young women had limited knowledge about HPV. Therefore it is important that health professionals provide comprehensible information about HPV vaccination in attaining informed consent. In order to avoid misunderstandings, health care professionals in youth clinics and schools need to initiate discussion with young women, clarifying the relation between cervical cancer, HPV and sexual transmission.