Factors associated with uptake of human papilloma virus vaccine among school girls aged 9–14 years in Lira City northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Cervical cancer is the most common Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-related disease among women. Since 2008, HPV vaccination has been routinely recommended for pre-adolescent and adolescent girls in Uganda as the primary preventive measure for cervical cancer. However, in Uganda, most especially in Lira district, there is limited literature on HPV vaccination uptake and associated factors among girls aged 9-14years. This study assessed the uptake of HPV vaccine and associated factors among in-school girls aged 9–14 years in Lira City, northern Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 245 primary school girls aged 9–14 years in Lira City, northern Uganda. Multistage sampling technique was used to sample eligible participants and data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression at 95% level of significance were used to identify the level of HPV vaccine uptake and predictors respectively. Results HPV vaccination uptake was at 19.6% (95% CI,14.8–25.1) among the school girls aged 9–14 years in Lira City, northern Uganda. The mean age of the girls was 12.11 (± 1.651) years. Predictors that were independently associated with HPV vaccine uptake included; recommendation from health worker [aOR 9.09, 95% CI (3.19–25.88), P ≤ 0.001], taught about cervical cancer at school [aOR,12.56, 95% CI (4.60–34.28), P ≤ 0.001], and exposure to outreach clinics [aOR, 4.41, 95% CI (1.37–14.19), P = 0.013]. Conclusion The study found that one in five of the school girls in Lira City, northern Uganda. received HPV vaccine. Girls who were taught about cervical cancer at school, exposure to outreach clinics and received health worker recommendation had more odds of receiving HPV vaccine than their counter parts. The Ministry of Health should strengthen school based cervical cancer education, awareness raising about HPV vaccination and health worker recommendations to improve HPV vaccine uptake among school girls in Uganda.

Human Papillomavirus and Associated Cancers: A Review

“…Global estimates suggest the rate of completion of the vaccine series is 15% [52]. Uptake of the vaccine was 19.6% in girls aged 9-14 in northern Uganda [53], 24.4% in general uptake in China [54], and 58.5% in girls aged 13-15 in the United States [55]. These data suggest that the economic status of the country may influence vaccine uptake.…”

Cervical Cancer Stages, Human Papillomavirus Integration, and Malignant Genetic Mutations: Integrative Analysis of Datasets from Four Different Cohorts

“…With regard to HPV vaccine coverages in these countries: (i) in the USA, according to the 2021 report on cancer-trend progress by the National Cancer Institute: 58.5% of adolescents aged 13-15 years had received two or three doses of HPV vaccines as recommended (https://progressreport.cancer.gov/prevention/hpv_ immunization, accessed on 16 November 2023); (ii) in China, according to 2020 estimates, vaccination coverage was <1%, and most HPV vaccines were given to adult women rather than to young girls aged 9-14 years old, though there is a plan to reach 90% vaccination in girls by the age of 15 in the year 2030 [30]. In Northern Uganda, Lira City, it was reported that about 19.6% of schoolgirls aged 9-14 years had received the HPV vaccine [31], which is a tiny portion of the country. According to a 2022 evaluation, Venezuela is one of the countries that have not introduced the HPV vaccine as a public health policy [32].…”