Encouraging improvement in HPV vaccination coverage among adolescent girls in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Introduction WHO recommends vaccination against HPV for girls before sexual debut. Uganda started HPV vaccination in 2008 as pilot programs in 2 districts, followed by national roll out in 2015. Despite the availability of vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) in Uganda in the period covered by the study, there was reported low HPV vaccine uptake and completion especially of the second dose in Uganda; with little information available on timely completion of HPV vaccine and the associated factors in Uganda. This study was therefore done to determine the HPV vaccine dose 2 completion and describe the possible factors associated with timely HPV vaccine completion and non-completion among girls of age 9–14 years attending the adolescent clinic at Mulago hospital. Methods A retrospective mixed methods study was conducted in Mulago National Referral hospital adolescent clinic. Data were mainly collected through review of charts and folders for clinic attendance by eligible girls and focus group discussions with eligible girls that completed the 2 doses of HPV vaccine on recommended/scheduled time. Results Out of the 201 girls studied, 87 girls (43.3%) had timely completion of the HPV vaccination. Knowledge about HPV infection and HPV vaccine benefits, positive peer influence and healthcare worker recommendation to get vaccinated at health facility level positively influenced timely completion of HPV vaccine. Among barriers to completion of HPV vaccine identified were: inadequate information about HPV infection and HPV vaccine, concerns about HPV vaccine efficacy and safety, unclear communication with adolescents/caregivers from healthcare workers and -stock out of the HPV vaccine. Conclusion Timely completion of the second dose of HPV vaccine among girls attending the adolescent clinic of Mulago hospital was low (at 43.3%) but higher when compared to earlier published reports. Interventions around improved social mobilization, enhanced outreach and static vaccination approach and education of eligible girls on HPV vaccination can help increase vaccine uptake.

Uptake of Human Papilloma Virus vaccine among young women living in fishing communities in Wakiso and Mukono districts, Uganda

“…The high uptake of the HPV vaccine reported in these countries could have been because the survey was conducted immediately after an HPV vaccine demonstration project involving mass immunization of young girls in school and communities through campaign programs which was not the case for this current survey. Additionally, the uptake of the HPV vaccine in this current study was lower than that reported by a study conducted in Central Uganda (43.3%) [ 15 ]. The difference in the findings could be due to the fact that this study was conducted in an adolescent clinic setting whereas our study was a community-based survey.…”

Self-efficacy, intention, and attitude toward human papillomavirus vaccination among urban females in indonesia: a cross-sectional study

“…Consequently, it implies that individuals in the youngest age bracket exhibit the highest inclination and readiness to receive the vaccine, despite potentially possessing less experience and knowledge compared to young adults or parents. Given the characteristics of young adolescents, it becomes imperative to provide them with support in the critical thinking process to effectively absorb and discern information pertaining to cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine (Lismidiati et al, 2022;Patrick et al, 2022). By doing so, their understanding and self-efficacy can be further refined, subsequently enhancing their attitudes and intentions regarding vaccine acceptance.…”

“…Among adolescents, a study conducted in Uganda revealed that only 43.3% of girls achieved timely completion for both doses of the HPV vaccination, which reflected their lack of self-efficacy (Patrick et al, 2022). Conversely, a study in Indonesia examined self-efficacy in adolescents regarding HPV vaccine uptake (Lismidiati et al, 2022).…”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision & utilisation of primary health care services in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kambia district, Sierra Leone & Masaka district, Uganda

“…HPV vaccine is usually delivered in Uganda via school-based outreach programmes [18]. Although schools remained closed throughout 2020, the MOH supplied a specific grant to support HPV vaccine delivery through community outreach, integrated with child health days, later in 2020 (pers.…”