title: Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccine among the urban, affluent and educated parents of young girls residing in Kolkata, Eastern India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for adolescent girls and young women; however, the social structure in India will not permit vaccination of this age-group without parental approval. Our study aimed to explore the attitude of affluent, urban Indian parents towards the HPV vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Well-to-do married couples with at least one daughter between 9-26 years of age were interviewed using a questionnaire in two parts. The first part was to assess their attitude to vaccination in general and their knowledge of cervical cancer; the second part was to assess their acceptance of the HPV vaccine. An educational fact sheet about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine was administered in between the two parts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 522 participants, 27% of men and 24% of women agreed to vaccinate their daughters against a cancer initially. After going through the fact sheet, 74% of both men and women were in favor of vaccination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HPV vaccine seems to be well accepted among this subgroup of population if appropriately educated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Oncology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India. basupartha@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Partha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Srabani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mittal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010290:Parents; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines