Self-reported barriers and facilitators to preventive human papillomavirus vaccination among adolescent girls and young women: a systematic review

Objective: Widespread uptake of preventive human papillomavirus vaccination among target groups is an important public health goal. To evaluate barriers and facilitators to human papillomavirus vaccination, we conducted a systematic review of self-reported views of adolescent girls and young women.

Methods: Twenty-two studies including 8079 females aged 9-26 years in North America, published between 2008 and 2011 (representing studies conducted post-vaccine availability), were included. Two reviewers performed all levels of screening and data abstraction in duplicate. We collated findings pertaining to vaccination barriers and facilitators, study characteristics, and study quality.

Results: Participants were mainly unvaccinated (70%) and sexually active. Twenty-one barriers to vaccination were identified. Cost was the most frequently reported barrier, followed by feelings that vaccination was unnecessary, and concerns regarding vaccine safety and side effects. Facilitators included perceived benefit of vaccination, health care provider recommendations, and social norms. Few studies specifically sought to isolate the views of adolescents, though not being sexually active was the most commonly reported barrier among this group.

Conclusion: Understanding factors which arbitrate in vaccination decisions among key target groups can improve the success of health promotion interventions. Additional studies of superior methodological quality are needed to produce reliable data to inform health promotion strategies.