Is the East of the West Ready for HPV Vaccination? Parental Perspectives from a Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic in Turkiye

Purpose: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major cause of preventable malignancies, particularly in immunocompromised individuals such as children with rheumatic diseases. Despite the availability of safe and effective HPV vaccines, uptake remains suboptimal, especially in countries where the vaccine is not yet included in the national immunization schedule. To evaluate parental awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward HPV and HPV vaccination in a pediatric rheumatology cohort in Turkiye. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 227 parents of children with confirmed rheumatologic diagnoses, followed at a tertiary pediatric rheumatology clinic. A structured, face-to-face survey was conducted between August and December 2024, addressing demographic data, general vaccination attitudes, and specific knowledge and perceptions related to HPV and its vaccine. Results: Only 18.9% of parents were aware of HPV and 20.3% had heard of the HPV vaccine. Higher education levels were significantly associated with greater awareness (p<0.01). Healthcare professionals were the most cited information source. While 26% of parents recognized the link between HPV and cancer, most were unaware of specific cancer types. Only 2.6% of children had been vaccinated. Lack of information (70.5%) and concerns about side effects (7.9%) were the leading reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Awareness of the cancer-HPV link was significantly associated with vaccination intention (p<0.001). A majority (69.6%) expressed a desire to learn more about the vaccine. Conclusions: Findings underscore a critical need for structured, culturally sensitive education and communication strategies to increase HPV vaccine awareness and uptake among families of children with chronic rheumatologic diseases in Turkiye.