WACC II-23Acceptance of multipurpose human papillomavirus vaccines among providers and mothers of adolescent girls: a mixed-methods study in five countries

05. HPV prophylactic vaccines
N.A. Vielot 1, S.K. Goldberg 1, S.B. Smith 1, G. Zimet 2, M. Macdonald 3, S. Ramos 4, K. Morgan 5, C. Kim 6, K. Richter 7, M. Peris 8, K. Whaley 9, J.S. Smith 10.
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health (United States), 2Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana (United States), 3Center on Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID), Duke University, Durham, NC, USA (United States), 4Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Argentina), 5Perdana University, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland (Malaysia), 6Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, St. Paul’s Hospital, Seoul, Korea (Korea, Republic of), 7Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria and National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria, South Africa (South Africa), 8Unit of Infections and Cancer, Cancer Epidemiology Research Programme, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Barcelona, Spain (Spain), 9Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc., San Diego, California, USA (United States), 10University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health; UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA (United States)

Background / Objectives

Multipurpose vaccines (MPVs) could be formulated based on the existing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent multiple sexually transmitted infections, including herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, little is known about vaccine providers’ preferences for MPVs compared to single-purpose HPV vaccine, or the acceptability of MPVs among mothers of adolescent girls.


Methods

A total of 151 adolescent vaccine providers and 118 mothers of adolescent daughters aged 9-14 were recruited from Argentina, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain. Provider preference for single-purpose HPV vaccine or an MPV that prevents HPV+HSV-2; HPV+HIV; or HPV+HSV-2+HIV was assessed via quantitative survey. Mothers' attitudes towards MPVs were assessed in twenty focus group discussions (FGDs). 


Results

Most providers preferred MPVs over single-purpose HPV vaccine; preference for MPVs was highest in South Africa (96.0%) and lowest in Malaysia (60.7%). HPV+HSV-2+HIV was the most preferred formulation (56%-82%) among providers.

Approximately half of all mothers preferred the MPV; support was most pronounced in South Africa and lowest in South Korea. Convenience and trust in the health care system were the most commonly-cited reasons for MPV acceptance, whereas safety and efficacy concerns were the most common barriers; differences emerged by country. Across FGDs, additional safety and efficacy information was requested, particularly from trusted sources such as health care providers (HCPs).  


Conclusion

General acceptance of MPVs among adolescent vaccine providers and mothers of adolescent girls supports their development. While most surveyed providers preferred MPVs, further research should identify barriers among providers who did not. MPV acceptance among mothers varied by country, but a common need for safety and efficacy information from HCPs indicates that clinicians are critical to vaccine promotion and acceptance. 


References