How Much Do Parents Really Know About HPV? A Study Among Polish Families with Children Aged 8-17

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with various diseases, including genital warts, but its most significant impact is its role in cancer development. HPV-related cancers constitute a substantial proportion of malignancies in both women and men. Importantly, these cancers are largely preventable through vaccination, available since 2006. Despite this, public attitudes toward HPV vaccination remain controversial. Vaccine hesitancy is often driven by insufficient knowledge about HPV, its consequences, and concerns about vaccine safety. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge regarding HPV-related cancers among parents or legal guardians of children aged 8–17 in Poland. A total of 164 participants completed an anonymous online survey distributed via Google Forms. The analysis included relationships between demographic variables (e.g., gender, place of residence) and HPV knowledge or willingness to vaccinate. Overall, parental knowledge was insufficient. Only 45.7% of respondents identified HPV as a cause of throat cancer, and awareness of transmission routes was limited. Furthermore, just 31.7% correctly estimated the prevalence of HPV-related cancers in women. Knowledge regarding vaccination was also inadequate: although 96.3% had heard of the vaccine, only 44.5% knew it could be administered at any age, and 28% were aware of the free vaccination program for both boys and girls aged 8–18 in Poland. Despite high awareness, only 57.3% had vaccinated or intended to vaccinate their children. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted public health education to improve HPV awareness and increase vaccination uptake, ultimately reducing HPV-related cancer burden.