Interpersonal Communication Channels Preferences among Parents of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine-Eligible Girls in King’oti Sublocation, Machakos County.

Abstract

The uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Kenya remains dismal due to limited awareness, widespread misinformation, and inadequate interpersonal engagement with parents who are the primary decision-makers for their daughters' health. This study examined interpersonal communication channel preferences among parents of HPV vaccine-eligible girls in Kingoti Sublocation, Machakos County, Kenya. The objectives were to determine parents' awareness levels regarding the HPV vaccine, explore their attitudes toward vaccination, identify preferred interpersonal communication channels, and examine factors influencing these preferences.Anchored in the interpretivist paradigm and guided by the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the study adopted a qualitative descriptive design. Fifteen parents of HPV vaccine-eligible girls aged 10–14 years were purposively selected to ensure diversity in gender, education level, and occupation. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews conducted in participants' homes or other convenient private settings within Kingoti Sublocation. Interviews were conducted in Kiswahili or English depending on participant preference and lasted approximately 15–30 minutes each. Data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke's six-step reflexive thematic analysis framework. Ethical approval was obtained from Daystar University Institutional Scientific and Ethical Review Committee (DU-ISERC) and the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI).Findings revealed uneven awareness among parents, with many exposed to the vaccine primarily through school consent forms but lacking comprehensive understanding of its purpose and benefits. Persistent misconceptions linking the HPV vaccine to infertility and family planning fueled hesitation and mistrust. While attitudes were largely positive driven by trust in government institutions and health professionals—misinformation created significant apprehension. Parents overwhelmingly preferred face-to-face communication with trusted figures including health workers, teachers, community leaders, and pastors. Community and religious forums emerged as credible spaces for dialogue and validation, while digital platforms such as WhatsApp were viewed as complementary but insufficient replacements for interpersonal engagement. Trust in source credibility, family and community influence, and respectful communication approaches were identified as key factors influencing channel choice.The study recommends strengthening policy collaboration between the Ministries of Health and Education, enhancing health system training in culturally sensitive interpersonal communication, institutionalizing community-based sensitization through trusted local leaders, and proactively countering misinformation through evidence-based community dialogues.