Knowledge, attitude, and utilization of human papillomavirus vaccination among female undergraduates in Ekiti State, Nigeria

• Published in: African journal of reproductive health Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 79 - 89
• Main Authors: Akpor, Oluwaseyi A, Adeyiolu, Adewale T, Alade, Modupe I, Adebiyi, Senami, Adeola, Richard S, Adeyanju, Benedict T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) 01.06.2023
• Subjects: Analysis; Cervical cancer; Health aspects; Mortality; Nigeria; Papillomaviruses; Vaccination; Women college students; Nigeria
• DOI: 10.29063/ajrh2023/v27i6s.10
• ISSN: 1118-4841

Despite the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Nigeria in 2009, vaccination rate is still low and the disease-related mortality remains high. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitude, and utilization of HPV vaccinations among female undergraduates in a university in Ekiti State, southwest Nigeria. This was an observational study that utilized a standardized questionnaire to obtain information from 200 female participants who were selected using multistage sampling technique. The data was analyzed and presented with descriptive statistics, while Chi- square was used to test any significance in observed differences and relationships between variables. About 53.3% of the respondents had fair knowledge of HPV. Results on utilization were extremely low as only 5.4% had received the vaccination in all three doses. The major barriers to HPV utilization were inadequate awareness about the vaccine (53.0%), concern about its cost and safety (41.1% and 40.1% respectively). We conclude that HPV vaccination campaign should be extensively encouraged especially among university students. The cost of the vaccine should be subsidised to encourage its uptake, thereby reducing cervical cancer incidence and deaths in the country. (Afr J Reprod Health 2023; 27[6s]: 79-89). Keywords: Mortality, cancer, women, vaccine Malgre l'introduction du vaccin contre le virus du papillome humain (VPH) au Nigeria en 2009, le taux de vaccination est encore faible et la mortalite liee a la maladie reste elevee. Cette etude a evalue les connaissances, l'attitude et l'utilisation des vaccins contre le VPH chez les etudiantes de premier cycle d'une universite de l'Etat d'Ekiti, dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria. Il s'agissait d'une etude observationnelle qui utilisait un questionnaire standardise pour obtenir des informations aupres de 200 participantes selectionnees a l'aide d'une technique d'echantillonnage a plusieurs degres. Les donnees ont ete analysees et presentees avec des statistiques descriptives, tandis que le chi carre a ete utilise pour tester toute signification dans les differences observees et les relations entre les variables. Environ 53,3 % des repondants avaient une bonne connaissance du VPH. Les resultats sur l'utilisation etaient extremement faibles puisque seulement 5,4 % avaient recu le vaccin aux trois doses. Les principaux obstacles a l'utilisation du VPH etaient une connaissance insuffisante du vaccin (53,0 %), des preoccupations concernant son cout et son innocuite (41,1 % et 40,1 % respectivement). Nous concluons que la campagne de vaccination contre le VPH devrait etre largement encouragee, en particulier chez les etudiants universitaires. Le cout du vaccin devrait etre subventionne pour encourager son adoption, reduisant ainsi l'incidence du cancer du col de l'uterus et les deces dans le pays. (Afr J Reprod Health 2023; 27[6s]: 79-89). Mots-cles: Mortalite, cancer, femmes, vaccin