Health beliefs and parental responses to human papillomavirus vaccination in the Middle East: a theory-informed narrative synthesis guided by the health belief model.

What was studied

This review looked at how parents in the Middle East view the HPV vaccine. HPV is a virus that is the main cause of cervical cancer. The team also looked at vaccine uptake in parents and in their children. They searched for studies from January 2006 to May 2025. They sorted the findings using a model of health beliefs. This model looks at how people see risk, harm, gains and barriers. The review plan was listed in a registry called PROSPERO.

What they found

The review took in 32 studies that measured things at one point in time. It also took in one qualitative study. In all, 18,170 people took part. Parents often knew little about HPV and the vaccine. Main barriers were worry about safety, cost and hard access. Other barriers were a lack of advice from health workers and too few facts. Culture and the health system were also linked to vaccine uptake.

What it means for patients

The authors say knowledge of HPV in the region is still too low. They say low knowledge was often tied to how parents viewed the vaccine. To raise uptake, they call for teaching, help from health workers and public campaigns. They also call for money support and changes in policy. Parents who felt able to act seemed to view the vaccine more kindly.

Why it is not certain yet

Almost all studies measured things at one point in time. Such studies show links, not cause. The authors say direct proof on parents feeling able to act was thin. They warn against making too much of this point.

Source

Health beliefs and parental responses to human papillomavirus vaccination in the Middle East: a theory-informed narrative synthesis guided by the health belief model.

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