Research Paper

Awareness And Acceptance Of Human Papillomavirus (hpv) Vaccine: A Study Among Female Undergraduates And Antenatal Mothers In Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Abstract :

There has been no reported study on the awareness and acceptability of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination among female University students and antenatal mothers in Port Harcourt. HPV has been implicated as the highest risk factor for cervical cancer. Reports have shown that the vaccine prevents a high percentage of cervical cancer. This study was carried out to assess the level of awareness and acceptance of HPV vaccine amongst female undergraduate students and Antenatal (ANC) mothers in Port Harcourt. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 800 participant; 436 female undergraduates and 364 ANC mothers. The Level of HPV awareness was poor, but the level of HPV vaccine acceptability was high. Enlightenment programs and public health promotion talk on HPV and HPV vaccination among female undergraduate students and ANC mothers should be encouraged. Context: There has been no reported study on the awareness and acceptability of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination among female University students and antenatal mothers in Port Harcourt. HPV has been implicated as the highest risk factor for cervical cancer. Reports have shown that the vaccine prevents a high percentage of cervical cancer. Objective: To assess the level of awareness and acceptance of HPV vaccine amongst female undergraduate students and Antenatal (ANC) mothers in Port Harcourt. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 800 participant; 436 female undergraduates and 364 ANC mothers. The University of Port Harcourt and the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) in Port Harcourt was used to obtain data from female undergraduates and registered ANC mothers respectively. Recruitment of students was by random and systemic sampling and recruitment for ANC mothers was based on routine antenatal check-up. A self- administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from participants. Results: Level of HPV awareness was poor, but the level of HPV vaccine acceptability was high. Conclusions: Enlightenment programs and public health promotion talk on HPV and HPV vaccination among female undergraduate students and ANC mothers was necessary. Recommendation: HPV vaccination should be part of the health evaluation of all female students at entry point and a HPV vaccination program should be included for ANC mothers in health facilities.

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