Cervical cancer and HPV vaccination: Knowledge and attitudes of adult women in Lusaka, Zambia

"When you get the HPV vaccine, it will prevent cervical cancer; it will act as a shield": adolescent girls' knowledge and perceptions regarding the human papillomavirus vaccine in Zambia

Introduction

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an important preventive measure for HPV-related conditions such as cervical cancer. In 2019, Zambia introduced a free national HPV vaccination program for 14-year-old girls. However, the adolescents' knowledge and perceptions regarding the HPV vaccine are not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to understand adolescent girls' knowledge and perceptions regarding the HPV vaccine and discuss its acceptability and uptake implications.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study in the Lusaka district between June 2021 and November 2021 using semi-structured interviews with adolescent girls aged 15-18 years regardless of their HPV vaccination status. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and NVIVO 12 was used for data management and analysis. We coded transcripts deductively and inductively based on emerging themes. Perceptions were coded using the health belief model constructs.

Results

We interviewed 30 adolescent girls to reach saturation. Seventeen girls reported having received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Participants expressed variable knowledge and awareness about HPV and the HPV vaccine. Participants exhibited positive attitudes towards the HPV vaccine and perceived it as beneficial. However, there were multiple perceived barriers to vaccination, such as the need for parental consent, not being in school, concerns about vaccine side effects, and belief in myths and misinformation.

Conclusion

The adolescent girls in this study showed variable knowledge and positive attitudes toward the HPV vaccine despite the many perceived barriers. To support increased HPV vaccine acceptability and uptake among adolescent girls in Zambia, it is critical to actively engage stakeholders involved in HPV vaccination, such as adolescents and their parents, and debunk myths and misconceptions about HPV vaccination. Health education in schools and communities should be implemented to increase knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccination among adolescents and their parents.

Mothers of adolescent girls and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination in Western Kenya

Introduction

human papilloma virus (HPV) which is preventable is the main cause of cervical cancer and it targets mostly young adolescents. The study was to determine the practice desire, attitude and knowledge of mothers of adolescent girls on HPV vaccination in Western Kenya.

Methods

this was a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Data was obtained using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics at 95% confidence level using the SPSS software version 22. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

ninety five percent of the mothers had intentions to vaccinate their daughters and also had a positive attitude and their response to HPV vaccination was significantly lower than those without intentions p=0.02, 95% CI, OR=0.48 (0.90-0.89). Vaccination against HPV was low at 9.4% with a mean age of 34 years. Our results found a high level of cervical cancer awareness (85.0%), HPV and vaccine awareness respectively (62.0%, and 64.0%). “Vaccination of my daughters will prompt early sexual activity and the cost of HPV vaccination being a barrier to vaccination” had a statistically significant influence on the practice of vaccination. Negative attitude to daughters´ early onset of sexual activity significantly reduced up take while positive attitude to cost of HPV vaccine significantly increased up take of HPV vaccination with p value of 0.007 and 0.04 respectively.

Conclusion

awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine prevention is low among mothers of adolescent girls in Western Kenya. There was a positive attitude and high desire towards the use of HPV vaccination therefore a need for awareness, policy and unify efforts to reduce cervical cancer burden.

Intention to Pay for HPV Vaccination among Women of Childbearing Age in Vietnam

The intention to pay for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among women of childbearing age in Vietnam, where cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern, has been mostly lacking. To examine this issue, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 807 pregnant women in an urban and a rural district (Dong Da and Ba Vi) of Hanoi, Vietnam. The vast percentage of our respondents expressed a firm intention to vaccinate, especially women in rural areas (over 90.0%). However, on being informed of the current price of the HPV vaccine, their intention to vaccinate dropped to about one-fifth of overall respondents, i.e., only 4.4% of women in rural areas. It was also observed that the initial intention to get the HPV vaccination among women in the rural district was about ten times higher than that of women living in the metropolitan district. Those participants who had greater knowledge of cervical cancer and HPV vaccinations also had a significantly higher intention to vaccinate. Our findings underscore the need to develop a well-designed vaccination program in Vietnam and other countries in a similar situation to increase the adoption of HPV vaccination.

Integrated Care Delivery for HIV Prevention and Treatment in Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Zambia: Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Among countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Zambia has one of the highest incidences of HIV. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are a particularly affected group because of their social and economic vulnerability.

Objective

The goal of this study is to test a multilevel package of interventions at the community and health system levels in Zambia in order to connect AGYW with a source of regular care, which will in turn allow for sustainable, successful implementation of regular HIV testing and adherence to antiretroviral treatment.

Methods

We will adapt prior tools to create the SHIELD (Support for HIV Integrated Education, Linkages to Care, and Destigmatization) intervention to educate and empower Zambian AGYW of 10-24 years of age and their families and to create community-based youth clubs to foster peer support. We will also develop integrated wellness care clinics to offer a youth-friendly environment that provides tailored clinical services. We will perform formative research, including focus groups and in-depth interviews, among AGYW, caregivers, and stakeholders to help inform the development and tailoring of the interventions. A cluster-randomized controlled trial will be implemented in Lusaka, with six clinic catchment areas randomized into three groups: zones with integrated wellness care clinics and SHIELD intervention, zones with only SHIELD intervention, and control zones with no intervention. We will assess HIV testing among the HIV-negative or unknown (HIV-/u) cohort, and retention in care along with viral load suppression will be evaluated in the HIV-positive (HIV+) cohort. We will use in-depth interviews and surveys to collect staff and stakeholder feedback after the trial. Cost-effectiveness of the interventions and return-on-investment impacts will be quantified using a microsimulation model.

Results

Interim results are expected in 2021, and the final results are expected in 2022. If this multilevel intervention is successful in establishing a comprehensive care continuum for HIV-affected AGYW, the Zambian Ministry of Health may advocate for expansion to additional settings to support national scale-up.

Conclusions

This integrated service delivery model can also be a platform to implement additional preventive services, so HIV-/u and HIV+ AGYW can receive comprehensive, integrated services.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03995953; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03995953

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/15314

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of cervical cancer prevention among Zambian women and men

BACKGROUND

In Zambia, cervical cancer screening was started in 2006 and the human papillomavirus vaccine was piloted in 2013. Nevertheless, cervical cancer remains the leading cancer. It is assumed that knowledge, social interaction, health behaviors and religion are factors that can influence screening and vaccination practices. This study addresses the question, what is the relationship between knowledge about cervical cancer, attitudes, self-reported behavior, and immediate support system, towards screening and vaccination of cervical cancer of Zambian women and men. The results of this study serve as a basis for future research, an input for improvement and adjustment of the existing prevention program and build on documented health behavior frameworks.

METHODS

A cross-sectional mixed methods study was conducted from February to May 2016. Two separate questionnaires were used to collect data from women (N = 300) and men (N = 300) residing in Chilenje and Kanyama (two townships in the capital city Lusaka). Respondent's knowledge of cervical cancer was operationalized by grading their ability to correctly identify causes and protective factors if they were aware of cervical cancer. Besides providing descriptive statistics of all study variables, we tested four research hypotheses concerning the link between knowledge, attitudes and practices suggested by the literature, by applying appropriate statistical tests (chi square test, analysis of variance, logistic regression).

RESULTS

Less than half of the respondents (36.8%) had heard of cervical cancer, 20.7% of women had attended screening and 6.7% of the total sample had vaccinated their daughter. Knowledge of causes and prevention was very low. There was a strong association between having awareness of cervical cancer and practicing screening (odds ratio = 20.5, 95% confidence interval = [9.214, 45.516]) and vaccination (odds ratio = 5.1, 95% confidence interval = [2.473, 10.423]). Social interactions were also found to greatly influence screening and vaccination behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

The low level of knowledge of causes and prevention of cervical cancer suggests a need to increase knowledge and awareness among both women and men. Interpersonal interactions have great impact on practicing prevention behaviors, for instance, vaccination of daughters.

The impact of the social environment on Zambian cervical cancer prevention practices

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer which is preventable by screening and vaccination is the most common cancer in Zambia among both the female and male population. In this article we aim to determine how the key players of the sociocultural and political environment recognize cervical cancer as a public health problem and therefore impact the provision of cervical cancer prevention services (screening and vaccination).

METHODS

Qualitative data in the form of interviews with stakeholders (health care providers, teachers and religious leaders), special interest groups (advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations) and policy makers, was collected as part of a mixed methods study from February to May 2016.

RESULTS

The views expressed by the respondents were coded into predetermined themes (cervical cancer in general, screening, vaccination) and an organizational chart of the administration of cervical cancer prevention services in Zambia was developed.

CONCLUSIONS

It is evident that the Zambian cervical cancer prevention system has targeted several areas and multiple sectors of society to reduce cervical cancer cases. However, awareness, knowledge, social support and facilities are factors that can be improved.

Factors influencing vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in three informal settlements in Lusaka, Zambia

INTRODUCTION

Heterogeneous coverage threatens to compromise the effectiveness of immunization programs in Zambia. Demand-creation initiatives are needed to address this; however, there is incomplete understanding of why vaccine coverage is suboptimal. We investigated overarching perceptions on vaccine acceptability, hesitancy, and accessibility at three informal settlements in Lusaka, Zambia.

METHODS

Nested within a cholera vaccination uptake study, we sought to understand overarching perceptions on vaccines' hesitancy in three informal settlements in Lusaka, Zambia. We conducted 48 focus group discussions with a convenience sample of laypersons, lay healthcare workers, neighbourhood health committee members and vaccinators.

RESULTS

Both laypersons and community-based health actors reported high vaccine acceptance though several sources of hesitancy were reported. Traditional remedies, alcohol use and religious beliefs emerged as drivers of vaccine hesitancy, likely reinforced by a background of distrust towards western medicine. Also mentioned were previous adverse events, fear of injections and low perceived need for immunization. Limited understanding of how vaccines work and overlapping local terms for vaccine and other medical concepts created confusion and inaccurate views and expectations. Some reported refusing injections to avoid pain and perceived risk of infection. Discussants emphasised the importance of education and preferred mobile immunization campaigns, with weekend to reach those with poor access and delivered by a combination of professional and volunteer workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Vaccine hesitancy in Zambia is underpinned by many factors including personal experiences with vaccinations, alternative belief models, limited knowledge, deep misunderstanding about how vaccines work, and barriers to access. To overcome these, community-driven models that incorporate factual communication by professionals and operate outside of traditional hours, may help. Better research to understand community preferences for vaccine uptake could inform interventions to improve immunization coverage in Zambia.

Cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccine acceptability among rural and urban women in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

OBJECTIVE

To determine cervical cancer screening coverage and the knowledge, attitudes and barriers toward screening tests among women in rural and urban areas of Tanzania, as well as explore how they view the acceptability of the HPV vaccine and potential barriers to vaccination.

SETTING

A cross-sectional study using interview-administered questionnaires was conducted using multistage random sampling within urban and rural areas in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 18-55 were asked to participate in the survey. The overall response rate was 97.5%, with a final sample of 303 rural and 272 urban dwelling women.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Descriptive and simple test statistics were used to compare across rural and urban strata. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate ORs and 95% CIs.

RESULTS

Most women (82%) reported they had heard of cervical cancer, while self-reported cervical cancer screening among women was very low (6%). In urban areas, factors associated with screening were: older age (OR=4.14, 95% CI 1.86 to 9.24 for ages 40-49, and OR=8.38, 95% CI 2.10 to 33.4 for >50 years), having health insurance (OR=4.15, 95% CI 1.52 to 11.4), and having knowledge about cervical cancer (OR=5.81, 95% CI 1.58 to 21.4). In contrast, among women residing in rural areas, only condom use (OR=6.44, 95% CI 1.12 to 37.1) was associated with screening. Women from both rural and urban areas had low vaccine-related knowledge; however, most indicated they would be highly accepting if it were readily available (93%).

CONCLUSIONS

The current proportion of women screened for cervical cancer is very low in Kilimanjaro Region, and our study has identified several modifiable factors that could be addressed to increase screening rates. Although best implemented concurrently, the availability of prophylactic vaccination for girls may provide an effective means of prevention if they are unable to access screening in the future.

Knowledge and awareness of HPV vaccine and acceptability to vaccinate in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Objectives

We assessed the knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine, and willingness and acceptability to vaccinate in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. We further identified countries that fulfill the two GAVI Alliance eligibility criteria to support nationwide HPV vaccination.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed studies on the knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine, and willingness and acceptability to vaccinate. Trends in Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccine coverage in SSA countries from 1990–2011 were extracted from the World Health Organization database.

Findings

The review revealed high levels of willingness and acceptability of HPV vaccine but low levels of knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer, HPV or HPV vaccine. We identified only six countries to have met the two GAVI Alliance requirements for supporting introduction of HPV vaccine: 1) the ability to deliver multi-dose vaccines for no less than 50% of the target vaccination cohort in an average size district, and 2) achieving over 70% coverage of DTP3 vaccine nationally. From 2008 through 2011 all SSA countries, with the exception of Mauritania and Nigeria, have reached or maintained DTP3 coverage at 70% or above.

Conclusion

There is an urgent need for more education to inform the public about HPV, HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer, particularly to key demographics, (adolescents, parents and healthcare professionals), to leverage high levels of willingness and acceptability of HPV vaccine towards successful implementation of HPV vaccination programs. There is unpreparedness in most SSA countries to roll out national HPV vaccination as per the GAVI Alliance eligibility criteria for supporting introduction of the vaccine. In countries that have met 70% DTP3 coverage, pilot programs need to be rolled out to identify the best practice and strategies for delivering HPV vaccines to adolescents and also to qualify for GAVI Alliance support.