Impact of an HPV awareness seminar on vaccine health outcomes in Philippine Catholic schools

Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains a highly preventable yet under-addressed public health concern, especially in areas with limited awareness and access to vaccination. This study examined the effect of an educational seminar on the knowledge, attitudes, and vaccine decision-making of private school officials and parents of children aged 9–14 in three Philippine Catholic secondary schools: CNJL, GBLS, and MCN. A mixed-methods design was used, including pre- and post-surveys and semi-structured interviews. Data from MCN were excluded due to low turnout and methodological limitations. Quantitative data were analyzed using measures of central tendency, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and a linear mixed-effects regression model, while qualitative data from GBLS underwent simplified thematic analysis. Results showed significant improvements in knowledge (E = 0.787, p = 0.020) and decision-making (E = 2.67, p < 0.001) in CNJL and GBLS, while attitude changes were not statistically significant (p = 0.090). School and geographic location significantly influenced knowledge gains. GBLS showed greater improvement due to lower baseline awareness, while CNJL exhibited a ceiling effect. Educational attainment significantly affected decision-making outcomes (E = 2.672, p < 0.001). Despite knowledge gains, misconceptions about HPV curability persisted. Structural barriers, particularly cost and limited government subsidies, hindered the translation of positive attitudes into actual vaccination decisions. Religion was not found to be a significant barrier. These findings highlight the effectiveness of school-based health education while emphasizing the need for structural support to achieve equitable HPV vaccination uptake.

Key messages

• This seminar serves as a replicable model for future HPV education programs in Philippine schools, offering a scalable approach to improving vaccine knowledge and decision-making nationwide.

• Our findings show that context-specific interventions are essential, as school location, demographics, and baseline awareness shape how communities respond to HPV education and vaccination.