The Assessments of HPV Vaccination among Adolescents in Selected Schools in FCT-Abuja and its Implications for Public Health.

Abstract

In 2020, globally estimated cases of cervical cancer was 604,127, while the death rate from cervical cancer was 341,831. To alter this trend and accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the global cervical cancer elimination initiative. In specific, the WHO, set up the 90-70-90 target through the initiative to be achieved by 2030. Thus, it requires 90% of girls to be vaccinated by the age of 15 years. The study assessed the HPV vaccination in the Federal Capital Territory-Abuja, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the rate of HPV vaccination in the Federal Capital Territory-Abuja, to identify the determinants of the vaccination and the effects of the rate of vaccination on public health. The mixed methods of survey and the qualitative study design of in-depth interview were adopted. The multi stage sampling method was used to select participants for the study. The questionnaire and IDI were instruments for data collection. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics using the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26-0. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic narrative approach. The study found out that the rate of vaccination of adolescents in the Federal Capital Territory is low. The study also found out that the determinants of this low rate of vaccination is religious manipulation, lack of trust in government, fear of damaging side effects among others. The study therefore recommends that continuous aggressive sensitization on cancer, stressing the prognosis and the cost effect of cancer management, formation of anti- cancer clubs in schools and among religious bodies, to initiate training for persons who will step down the training to the target groups.