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Background <p>Cervical cancer (CC) remains a major public health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Morocco, vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) was included in the National Immunization Programme in 2022, but coverage remains limited. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the adult population toward HPV vaccination and to identify potential barriers to vaccine uptake in the Souss-Massa region.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2024 and June 2025 among 503 adults. Data were collected using a validated bilingual questionnaire covering five dimensions: sociodemographics, knowledge about HPV and vaccination, attitudes and intentions towards vaccination, reported vaccination practices, and trust in different sources of information. We performed analysis using Chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests, with a threshold of <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05.</p> Results <p>The study participants was predominantly female (80.5%), young (39.6% aged 20–29) and educated (93.5% at university level or higher). In terms of knowledge, 89.3% identified HPV as a cause of cervical cancer, but only 0.9% achieved a good overall score. Attitudes were generally positive (83.3% favourable), although 22.1% expressed concerns about side effects. However, uptake remained low: 19.5% of parents reported having vaccinated their daughters and 5.5% reported having vaccinated a relative. Trust was highest among healthcare professionals (55.7%), yet more than half of respondents expressed low overall trust. Bivariate analyses showed a significant associations between better knowledge/attitudes and age ≥ 40 years, female gender, higher education level and healthcare profession.</p> Conclusion <p>This study reveals a marked discrepancy between favourable attitudes and actual practices, illustrating an “intention-behaviour gap”. Strengthening health education, mobilising healthcare professionals and implementing campaigns tailored to the sociocultural context are essential to improve vaccine uptake and achieve WHO targets.</p>

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Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the HPV vaccine for young girls among adults in the Souss-Massa region, Morocco

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月9日

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  • Bouchra Amaoui,
  • Reda Azmani,
  • Chafika Belkadi,
  • Mohamed El Fahssi,
  • Fatima Safini,
  • Youssef Chami Khazraji,
  • Sanae Abaoui,
  • Slimane Semghouli

摘要

Background

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a major public health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Morocco, vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) was included in the National Immunization Programme in 2022, but coverage remains limited. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the adult population toward HPV vaccination and to identify potential barriers to vaccine uptake in the Souss-Massa region.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2024 and June 2025 among 503 adults. Data were collected using a validated bilingual questionnaire covering five dimensions: sociodemographics, knowledge about HPV and vaccination, attitudes and intentions towards vaccination, reported vaccination practices, and trust in different sources of information. We performed analysis using Chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests, with a threshold of p < 0.05.

Results

The study participants was predominantly female (80.5%), young (39.6% aged 20–29) and educated (93.5% at university level or higher). In terms of knowledge, 89.3% identified HPV as a cause of cervical cancer, but only 0.9% achieved a good overall score. Attitudes were generally positive (83.3% favourable), although 22.1% expressed concerns about side effects. However, uptake remained low: 19.5% of parents reported having vaccinated their daughters and 5.5% reported having vaccinated a relative. Trust was highest among healthcare professionals (55.7%), yet more than half of respondents expressed low overall trust. Bivariate analyses showed a significant associations between better knowledge/attitudes and age ≥ 40 years, female gender, higher education level and healthcare profession.

Conclusion

This study reveals a marked discrepancy between favourable attitudes and actual practices, illustrating an “intention-behaviour gap”. Strengthening health education, mobilising healthcare professionals and implementing campaigns tailored to the sociocultural context are essential to improve vaccine uptake and achieve WHO targets.