Refusal of parents to the vaccine against Human Papillomavirus on their daughters

Abstract

The vaccine against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) protects the women against cervical cancer, which annually in Chile causes about 600 deaths. The implementation of this vaccine has faced several obstacles, one of which is the parents refusal to apply the vaccine to their daughters in the respective educational establishments. Objective: To know the motivation of a group of parents for the rejection of the HPV vaccine on their daughters. Method: Qualitative research of exploratory nature, implemented in a narrative design. Five parents who refused to vaccinate their daughters against HPV were interviewed. Results: Parents are suspicious of the vaccine because of its unprecedented nature in the country, are afraid of adverse reactions, claim that the pharmaceutical industry is not transparent and are distrustful of public institutions of health in the country. On the other hand, religious beliefs influence the decision since vaccination is perceived as a form of sexual debauchery promotion. Conclusion: The refusal of parents to vaccinate their daughters is mediated by factors of values, lack of information and a deep distrust of the health institutions of the country, which should be considered by the health authorities in the design and implementation of this public policy.