Improving knowledge, beliefs and intent to vaccinate against human papillomavirus among parents of school going girls in Yerevan, Armenia: a multimedia health education intervention

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases among the human population and is emerging as one of the noticeable global health risks. In developed countries, women are vaccinated against HPV and are regularly screened for cervical dysplasia, thus, allowing early detection of HPV infection and leading to the prevention of 80% of cervical cancers. Around 250 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year in Armenia, all linked with HPV infection. In 2018, cervical cancer was the second most common cancer among women of reproductive age, and the seventh leading cause of morbidity of any cancer among the female population in Armenia. Though the HPV vaccine has been available to the public since 2017 in Armenia, the coverage was around 10% in 2019. Lack of knowledge about the cervical cancer, lack of awareness about the HPV vaccine, and speculations surrounding the side-effects of the vaccine could be the reasons for the observed low coverage in the country. Aim: This project aims to increase knowledge and belief about HPV among parents of school-going girls and to increase the intention to vaccinate their daughter by demonstrating the advantages of vaccinating against HPV through a video intervention in Yerevan, Armenia.