Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Parents of Young Girls regarding Vaccination against Cervical Cancer in Ouagadougou

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Résumé

Introduction: Cervical cancer remains a major public health issue in Sub-Saharan
Africa. Understanding parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices is
crucial to improving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage and
reducing the disease burden in Burkina Faso. Methodology: A cross-sectional
survey was conducted in Ouagadougou from 19 - 28 December 2024 among 403
parents of girls aged 10 - 12. Data were collected using structured face-to-face
questionnaires via KoboCollect. Socio-demographic variables, knowledge, attitudes,
and vaccination practices were assessed. Bivariate and multivariate
analyses identified factors associated with parental acceptance of HPV vaccination.
Ethical approval was obtained from the national committee, and interviews
were conducted anonymously with informed consent. Results: Participants’
mean age was 42.8 years, and most were female (87.8%) and married
(87.6%). Knowledge about HPV and prevention was limited: while 98.5% had
heard of cervical cancer, only 12.4% knew HPV causes it. Overall, 85.1% knew
of the vaccine, yet only 53.9% accepted vaccination and 12.7% had already
vaccinated their daughters. Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex (OR =
2.4), having a relative who died of cancer (OR = 3.1), awareness that vaccination
is free (OR = 9.4), knowledge of vaccination sites (OR = 1.4), belief in
effectiveness (OR = 1.9), and rejecting infertility myths (OR = 3.7) were significantly
associated with acceptance. Conclusion: HPV vaccination acceptance
among parents in Ouagadougou remains suboptimal, despite general awareness
of cervical cancer. Misconceptions, insufficient knowledge, and practicalbarriers limit uptake. Strengthening communication, addressing myths, and
promoting accessibility are essential strategies to increase vaccination coverage
and ultimately reduce the cervical cancer burden in Burkina Faso.

Mots-clés

Vaccination, Cervical Cancer, Knowledge, Attitudes, Pratices, Ouagadougou