HPV Vaccine Hesitancy: Examining the Role of Knowledge, Trust in Healthcare Providers, and Exposure to Misinformation

Abstract

This study aims to explore the effect of HPV knowledge, trust in healthcare providers and exposure to misinformation on HPV vaccine hesitancy among mothers of adolescent girls in Pakistan. The study uses an integrated model that incorporates the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) models. A cross-sectional quantitative design was used and data was collected from 203 mothers from Rawalpindi and Islamabad via structured questionnaires. SPSS PROCESS Macro was used to conduct mediation and moderation analyses. Results suggest that an HPV knowledge intervention alone was not effective in significantly decreasing HPV vaccine hesitancy. The association between HPV knowledge and vaccine hesitancy was fully explained by trust in healthcare providers, however. Misinformation was associated with high levels of mistrust and a reduced positive attitude to vaccines. The results indicated that vaccine hesitance was not only related to awareness and knowledge deficits but also vaccine mistrust and misinformation in Pakistan. The study underscores culturally adapted communication strategies, trust-building approaches, and misinformation management as crucial strategies to enhance HPV vaccine acceptance in Pakistan.