Human papillomavirus vaccination willingness and influencing factors among women in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: This study aims to comprehensively review the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination willingness among Chinese women and explore the factors influencing their vaccination intentions. Method(s): A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across nine electronic databases-China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, VIP Journal Integration Service Platform, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science-from database inception to February six, 2025, to identify studies examining HPV vaccine acceptance among Chinese women. Result(s): The pooled willingness to receive the HPV vaccine among Chinese women was estimated at 65.7 % (95 % CI: 55.2 %-76.2 %). Subgroup analyses indicated higher intent among women with a college education or above (71.1 % versus 60.1 %), urban residents (68.3 % versus 56.0 % in rural areas), southern China residents (69.0 % versus 59.7 % in northern regions), individuals with medical-related backgrounds (84.2 % versus 35.7 %), and those with prior HPV or vaccine knowledge (66.1 %/76.4 % versus 50.2 %/57.8 %), Willingness was also higher among women with a family cancer history (74.5 % versus 55.3 %), and those impacted by COVID-19 (67.5 % versus 57.5 %). Anonymous questionnaires yielded higher willingness (71.8 % versus. 58.8 %). Other influencing factors included age, attitudes toward premarital sex, and awareness of HPV risks and vaccine benefits. Conclusion(s): Chinese women's overall willingness to receive the HPV vaccine remains below the World Health Organization (WHO)'s 90 % target, with significant disparities across subpopulations. Targeted public health efforts are urgently needed to enhance vaccine awareness and acceptance, especially among women in rural or underdeveloped areas, with lower education, non-medical backgrounds, or no family history of cancer. Copyright © 2025