Prevalence and Determinants of HPV Vaccine Hesitancy Among Parents in Efoulan Health District Yaoundé

Background Cervical cancer, though preventable, remains the second most common cancer among women in Cameroon, with the majority of cases being linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV Vaccination has been identified as the simplest, most effective way of preventing cervical cancer, yet uptake is low, which could be associated with vaccination hesitancy from parents. Objectives This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of HPV vaccine hesitancy among parents in the Efoulan Health District (EHD), Yaoundé. Methods A community-based analytic cross-sectional study was conducted between July and August in EHD, one of the biggest and most populated health districts in Yaoundé. A pretested questionnaire adapted from the WHO’s vaccine hesitancy tool was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sociodemographic data, and results were presented in tables and graphs. A binomial logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with hesitancy, with a p-value set at 0.05. Results Our results revealed 32.5% hesitancy, associated with a moderate level of knowledge about the HPV vaccine but poor understanding of its details. Several sociodemographic factors, including educational level, religion, marital status and history of vaccination, were positively associated with HPV vaccine hesitancy. Furthermore, awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine was a positive predictor of HPV vaccine hesitancy. Perceived safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, as well as peers' influence, were also associated with hesitancy. Also, the influence of the COVID-19 vaccine, concerns about side effects, pain after injection, lack of trust in health institutions and school-based programs, cultural and religious influences and the cost associated with HPV testing and vaccination, HPV vaccination. Conclusion These results emphasize that interventions must be both context-specific and culturally sensitive to address the complex interplay of perceptions and structural barriers to overcome hesitancy, thus morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer.