Analysis of community-based studies related with knowledge, awareness, attitude, and behaviors towards HPV and HPV vaccine published in Turkey: A systematic review

Abstract

Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is a proven method for preventing HPV-related cancers and genital warts, especially preventing cervicalcancer. It is aimed to systematically review and synthesize conclusions in detail from community-based studies published in Turkey between 2009and 2019, which evaluate the knowledge, awareness, attitude, and behaviors of individuals towards HPV and HPV vaccination. This systematicreview is conducted based on the PRISMA reporting method and includes community-based, descriptive cross-sectional and cross-sectionalstudies published between 2009 and 2019. In this systematic review, 5132 studies from six databases were scanned in total. It was determinedthat there were 23 studies that met the eligibility criteria for this systematic review. In the reviewed studies, it was determined that the rate of“Hearing of HPV before” was 3.8% at the lowest and 57.0% at the highest, and the rate of “Hearing of HPV vaccine before” was 2.2% at the lowestand 74.7% at the highest. In the reviewed studies, it was reported that although parents’ willingness to have their daughters vaccinated with HPVvaccine varied between 14.4% and 68.0%, their willingness to have their sons vaccinated with HPV vaccine varied between 11.0% and 62.0%.In addition, it was reported that the lowest rate of vaccination with HPV vaccine among participants was 0.3% at the lowest and 6.0% at thehighest. Consequently, it is considered that conducting common, systematic, and continuous health education programs aimed at both sexesand including both parents, which will increase the knowledge and awareness on HPV and its vaccine, would provide positive attitudes, and willbe effective in protecting against HPV-related cancers. (J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2020; 21: 111-23)