Female gynecologists and HPV vaccination: Factors influencing the administration of vaccines to patients

Hesitancy towards the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine poses a significant obstacle to preventing cervical cancer. The global HPV vaccination rate among women remains low, primarily due to this hesitancy. Understanding the various factors influencing healthcare providers is crucial for effectively addressing and reducing HPV vaccine hesitancy within the community. Participant data were collected using an online questionnaire with a consecutive sampling technique. Of the 122 female gynecologists who were members of the Indonesian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Surabaya, 98 participated in this study, which was conducted from October 2023 to November 2023. Of those who received the HPV vaccine, 92% completed the full vaccination series as recommended. Regarding health promotion practices, 81.6% of respondents actively administered the HPV vaccine to their patients, and 92.9% offered it as a preventive measure. The majority of female gynecologists in this study had received the HPV vaccine. Our findings indicated that the HPV vaccination status and knowledge level of gynecologists significantly influenced HPV vaccine coverage. Specifically, vaccinated and knowledgeable gynecologists were 5.5 times (95% CI: 1.413-22.024, p = 0.014) and 2.9 times (95% CI: 1.532-5.554, p = 0.001), respectively, more likely to promote vaccination to their patients.