OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death due to oncological diseases in Russian women. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was recommended by the Russian pediatric association 10 years ago but still the uptake remains low. This study assessed plausible barriers in two groups: adolescents and their parents.

METHODS: Adolescents aged 10 - 17 and parents were interviewed. The questionnaires for teenagers and caregivers were developed separately for the study purpose and validated. Then, statistical methods were applied.

RESULTS

: The study included 260 adolescents and 253 parents. The levels of awareness on HPV infection demonstrated a significant difference in two groups. In parents’ 38% were aware of HPV, 45% partially aware and 17% not aware, whereas in teenagers’ only 20% aware and 27% partially aware. There seems to be a significant difference in awareness of HPV infection and its forms in 2 groups. Parents are significantly more aware of HPV infection in Russian population. (χ²=70.027, p< 0.00001). The information regarding the awareness of HPV vaccine was also assessed. In the studied population 70% of parents were informed about the vaccine, while only 33% of teenagers knew about it. (OR: 4.71, 95 % CI: 3.24 to 6.83, p< 0.0001). The odds of parents being informed about HPV vaccine were 4.7 times higher compared to teenagers. As previously the benefits of HPV vaccination were more promoted by different professional associations for women, the answers of parents of adolescent girls were evaluated separately. It was demonstrated that their knowledge about HPV vaccine does not differ from the general population of teenagers’ parents (75% vs. 70%, χ²=1.54, p< 0.46)

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides contemporary real-world evidence on the existing HPV information gap in Russia, which discourages vaccination. These data confirm the importance of increasing the awareness of HPV primarily in the adolescents to increase vaccine uptake.