Abstract
Purpose: This study was aimed to examine mothers'knowledge about human papillomavirus (HPV)vaccination to prevent cervical cancer in Korea. Methods: From September 20 to October 10 2011, 101 mothers who have adolescent girls were surveyed with questionnaires about their general characteristics, the knowledge of HPV vaccine, inoculation rate and vaccination-related factors of their daughters. Results: The percentage of correct answers for HPV vaccine knowledge was 24.2% and the HPV vaccination rate was only 5.9%. HPV vaccine knowledge score of the vaccination group was significantly higher than that of the non-vaccinated group. Mothers said that the reasons why they didn't vaccinate their daughters against the HPV was the financial burden, the lack of HPV knowledge, and worries about possible side effects. The participants addressed that they understood the appropriate age for vaccination was sixteen. Conclusion: We recommend that more educational and promotional efforts need to be given for mothers in order to improve their knowledge of HPV vaccination and to increase the performance rates of HPV immunization against cervical cancer for their daughters.