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Kalbarczyk A, Brownlee N, Katz E. Of Money and Men: A Scoping Review to Map Gender Barriers to Immunization Coverage in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:625. [PMID: 38932354 PMCID: PMC11209140 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Among the multiple factors impeding equitable childhood immunization coverage in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), gender barriers stand out as perhaps the most universal. Despite increasing recognition of the importance of gender considerations in immunization programming, there has not yet been a systematic assessment of the evidence on gender barriers to immunization. We conducted a scoping review to fill that gap, identifying 92 articles that described gender barriers to immunization. Studies documented a range of gender influencers across 43 countries in Africa and South Asia. The barrier to immunization coverage most frequently cited in the literature is women's lack of autonomous decision-making. Access to immunization is significantly impacted by women's time poverty; direct costs are also a barrier, particularly when female caregivers rely on family members to cover costs. Challenges with clinic readiness compound female caregiver's time constraints. Some of the most important gender barriers lie outside of the usual purview of immunization programming but other barriers can be addressed with adaptations to vaccination programming. We can only know how important these barriers are with more research that measures the impact of programming on gender barriers to immunization coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kalbarczyk
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Natasha Brownlee
- Global Center for Gender Equality, Washington, DC 20036, USA; (N.B.); (E.K.)
| | - Elizabeth Katz
- Global Center for Gender Equality, Washington, DC 20036, USA; (N.B.); (E.K.)
- Department of Economics, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
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Ebrahimi N, Yousefi Z, Khosravi G, Malayeri FE, Golabi M, Askarzadeh M, Shams MH, Ghezelbash B, Eskandari N. Human papillomavirus vaccination in low- and middle-income countries: progression, barriers, and future prospective. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1150238. [PMID: 37261366 PMCID: PMC10227716 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1150238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a viral infection that, if does not go away, can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. The national immunization schedules for individuals before sexual debut, significantly decreased HPV-associated mortality and it will be affordable. However, immunization programs remain vulnerable to macroeconomic factors such as inflation, fiscal policy, employment levels, and national income. This review aims to investigate the association between national income in lower-middle-income countries to explore recent advances and potential issues, as well as how to deal with challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narges Ebrahimi
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Zahra Yousefi
- School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Khosravi
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Marjan Golabi
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Monireh Askarzadeh
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Shams
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Behrooz Ghezelbash
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nahid Eskandari
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Rajkhowa P, Patil DS, Dsouza SM, Narayanan P, Brand H. Evidence on factors influencing HPV vaccine implementation in South Asia: A scoping review. Glob Public Health 2023; 18:2288269. [PMID: 38063361 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2023.2288269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern globally, with low and middle-income countries bearing the highest burden, specifically the South Asian region. Therefore, the current scoping review aimed to highlight the factors influencing the implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in South Asia. Adopting the 'Arksey and O'Malley and Levac et al.' methodology, multiple electronic databases were searched to identify relevant records. The results were narratively synthesised and discussed, adopting the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) model. We identified 527 records, which were assessed for eligibility based on title, abstract, and full text by three reviewers, followed by data extraction of 29 studies included for analysis in the review. Implementing HPV vaccination programs in South Asia faces various challenges, such as economic, health system, financial, health literacy, and sociocultural factors that hinder their successful implementation. To successfully implement the vaccine, a tailored risk communication strategy is necessary for these countries. Knowledge gained from the experience of South Asian nations in implementing the HPV vaccine can assist in policymaking in similar healthcare for advancing the implementation of HPV vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyobrat Rajkhowa
- Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute - CAPHRI, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Divya Sussana Patil
- Public Health Evidence South Asia, Department of Health Information, Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Sherize Merlin Dsouza
- Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute - CAPHRI, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Prakash Narayanan
- Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Helmut Brand
- Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute - CAPHRI, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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