JBUON 2018; 23 (Suppl 1): S34-S43 ISSN: 1107-0625, online ISSN: 2241-6293 • www.jbuon.com E-mail: editorial_ofce@jbuon.com SPECIAL ARTICLE Correspondence to: Kimon Chatzistamatiou, MD, PhD. 1 st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thes- saloniki, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Tel: +30 6973321162, Fax: +30 2310892140, E-mail: kimon.chatzistamatiou@gmail.com Received: 02/07/2018; Accepted: 30/07/2018 Personal and parental acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccination prior to and during the economic crisis among women in Greece Vagia Siamanta 1 , Kimon Chatzistamatiou 2 , Dimitrios Vavilis 3 , Evangelia Nena 4 , Εkaterini Chatzaki 5 , Theodoros C. Constantinidis 6 , Anastasia Kitsou 7 , Athena Tsertanidou 8 , Alexandros F. Lampropoulos 9 , Theodoros Agorastos 10 1 4 th Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 2 1 st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 3 1 st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 4 Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece; 5 Laboratory of Pharmacology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece; 6 Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece; 7 4 th Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 8 4 th Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 9 1 st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; 10 4 th Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece Summary Purpose: To assess personal and parental human papil- lomavirus (HPV) vaccination acceptance and how it is in- fuenced by demographic factors prior to (2005-2010) and during (2011-2016) the economic crisis in Greece. Methods: During 2005-2016, 6,401 women aged 18-65 years, living in diferent areas of Greece flled in a question- naire covering demographic characteristics, knowledge of HPV infection’s natural history and its consequences and assessing their intention to receive the HPV vaccine for them- selves and their children. Results: Women’s intention to get vaccinated before the eco- nomic crisis was higher (86.2%) than during it (82.8%). In addition, the intention of women to vaccinate their children was higher for girls during 2005-2010 (78.3%), while there was no statistically signifcant diference concerning boys. HPV vaccination acceptance per year showed a statistically signifcant variation. The initially high acceptance decreased following vaccine’s release, mainly due to fear of side efects, increased following objective public education, and declined again. Demographic characteristics afected HPV vaccina- tion acceptance at the time period before the economic crisis in Greece, but not during it. Conclusion: Demographic factors afecting a woman’s at- titude towards vaccination prior to the economic crisis in Greece, stopped playing a signifcant role during the crisis, re- fecting its devastating efect on most parts of the population. Key words: demographic factors, economic disparities, eco- nomic Greek crisis, HPV vaccination acceptance Introduction Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death among women worldwide [1]. Currently, it is fully accepted that the cause of cervical cancer is the persistent genital infection with HPV [2]. The HPV infection, however, is considered to be a nec- essary, but not sufcient cause for the development of cancer [3,4]. This work by JBUON is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.