Parental perceptions, information sources, and practices related to childhood immunization and HPV vaccine awareness in Saudi Arabia: an observational study
- 1Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University
- 2Pharmacy Practice Research Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University
- 3College of Pharmacy, Jazan University
Abstract
Background: Parents’ perceptions, information sources, and household vaccination practices influence routine childhood immunization and may also shape responses to newer vaccines. We conducted an updated Saudi survey using an adapted instrument and included a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine module to assess self-reported awareness and recommendation intention.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among parents in Saudi Arabia from June to July 2025. The Arabic questionnaire covered vaccination awareness and perceptions, information sources, parent-reported practices and experiences, with two HPV-specific items. Descriptive analyses used chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests. Multivariable binary logistic regression examined factors associated with HPV vaccine awareness, and an exploratory multinomial logistic regression examined HPV vaccine recommendation intention.
Results: A total of 513 parents were included. Self-reported general vaccine awareness was 96.9%. Routine vaccination uptake was 98.8%, and 90.6% reported completing recommended vaccinations. Awareness of national immunization programs was 57.9%, and 61.4% reported satisfaction with vaccination information in the media; 71.7% did not believe vaccination is harmful. Health workers were the most frequently selected source of vaccination information (60.0%). HPV vaccine awareness was 68.6%, and 52.4% would recommend HPV vaccination for their child, while 19.1% selected “I do not know.” In adjusted analysis, HPV vaccine awareness was higher among females (aOR 1.87; 95% CI 1.23–2.86), among parents in all other regions compared with the Southern region (aORs 2.02–3.38), among those reporting problems during vaccination (aOR 2.82; 95% CI 1.76–4.51), and among those expressing either a harmful or non-harmful view of vaccination compared with “I do not know.” In the exploratory multinomial analysis, HPV vaccine awareness was associated with a lower relative likelihood of responding “I do not know” rather than “Yes” to HPV vaccine recommendation intention (aRRR 0.07; 95% CI 0.04–0.13).
Conclusion: Routine childhood immunization was strongly established, while HPV awareness and recommendation intention were less uniform, with a sizable undecided group. Findings support stronger provider communication and credible public messaging, particularly for lower-awareness regions and uncertain parents.
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BibTeX
@article{yasmeen2026parental,
title = {{Parental perceptions, information sources, and practices related to childhood immunization and HPV vaccine awareness in Saudi Arabia: an observational study}},
author = {Ayesha Yasmeen and Mamoon H. Syed and Amani Khardali and Moaddey Alfarhan and Hilal A. Thaibah and Hadi A. Almansour and Saeed A. Al-Qahtani and Yasir M. Khawaji and Sultan A. Qadiri and Abdulelah I. Faqihi and Jaber D. Hallush and Ali H. Alhazmi and Thamir M. Alshammari},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1992535},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1992535/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Parental perceptions, information sources, and practices related to childhood immunization and HPV vaccine awareness in Saudi Arabia: an observational study
AU - Ayesha Yasmeen
AU - Mamoon H. Syed
AU - Amani Khardali
AU - Moaddey Alfarhan
AU - Hilal A. Thaibah
AU - Hadi A. Almansour
AU - Saeed A. Al-Qahtani
AU - Yasir M. Khawaji
AU - Sultan A. Qadiri
AU - Abdulelah I. Faqihi
AU - Jaber D. Hallush
AU - Ali H. Alhazmi
AU - Thamir M. Alshammari
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1992535
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1992535/full
AB - Background: Parents’ perceptions, information sources, and household vaccination practices influence routine childhood immunization and may also shape responses to newer vaccines. We conducted an updated Saudi survey using an adapted instrument and included a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine module to assess self-reported awareness and recommendation intention. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among parents in Saudi Arabia from June to July 2025. The Arabic questionnaire covered vaccination awareness and perceptions, information sources, parent-reported practices and experiences, with two HPV-specific items. Descriptive analyses used chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests. Multivariable binary logistic regression examined factors associated with HPV vaccine awareness, and an exploratory multinomial logistic regression examined HPV vaccine recommendation intention. Results: A total of 513 parents were included. Self-reported general vaccine awareness was 96.9%. Routine vaccination uptake was 98.8%, and 90.6% reported completing recommended vaccinations. Awareness of national immunization programs was 57.9%, and 61.4% reported satisfaction with vaccination information in the media; 71.7% did not believe vaccination is harmful. Health workers were the most frequently selected source of vaccination information (60.0%). HPV vaccine awareness was 68.6%, and 52.4% would recommend HPV vaccination for their child, while 19.1% selected “I do not know.” In adjusted analysis, HPV vaccine awareness was higher among females (aOR 1.87; 95% CI 1.23–2.86), among parents in all other regions compared with the Southern region (aORs 2.02–3.38), among those reporting problems during vaccination (aOR 2.82; 95% CI 1.76–4.51), and among those expressing either a harmful or non-harmful view of vaccination compared with “I do not know.” In the exploratory multinomial analysis, HPV vaccine awareness was associated with a lower relative likelihood of responding “I do not know” rather than “Yes” to HPV vaccine recommendation intention (aRRR 0.07; 95% CI 0.04–0.13). Conclusion: Routine childhood immunization was strongly established, while HPV awareness and recommendation intention were less uniform, with a sizable undecided group. Findings support stronger provider communication and credible public messaging, particularly for lower-awareness regions and uncertain parents.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -