Determinants of Second-Dose HPV Vaccine Uptake among Elementary School Students in the Catchment Area of Genuk Health Center Semarang

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among women, primarily caused by persistent infection of oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The Indonesian government has included HPV vaccination in the national immunization program through the School-Based Immunization Month (BIAS), yet the coverage of the second dose remains below the national target in several areas, including Puskesmas Genuk Semarang. This study aimed to analyze the determinants of HPV second-dose vaccine acceptance among elementary school students. A quantitative analytic study with a cross-sectional design was conducted in August 2025, involving 106 parents or guardians of 6th-grade female students selected using proportional random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with the Chi-Square test. The results showed that education level, knowledge, trust, attitude, school support, health workers’ support, and perceived need for the vaccine were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance (p < 0.05), while age, gender, and access to information were not. The majority of respondents (84.9%) accepted the HPV second-dose vaccination. It can be concluded that cognitive and social support factors play a crucial role in determining HPV vaccine completion. Strengthening health education, improving communication strategies, and enhancing collaboration between schools and health workers are essential to increase vaccine coverage and support cervical cancer elimination efforts.