Gemeinschaftsmedizin und Gesundheitserziehung

Abstrakt

Nigerian Women's Perceptions about Human Papilloma Virus Immunisations

Odetola TD and Ekpo K

Although cervical cancer remains a common condition in Nigeria, with a reported prevalence of 23.7% (21.1-26.4) among 1030 women with normal cytology and an incidence of 19.3% per 100,000 women per year, only the minority of Nigerian women have used human papilloma virus (HPV) immunisation services. This study was thus out to identify the reasons for this low patronage. This descriptive study took place among women attendees of an immunisation clinic in Nigeria. The clinic is adequately stocked with all the immunisation in Nigeria schedule including HPV vaccination and enjoys high patronage by different economic, cultural and religious groups. The study explored their perception about the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine which was introduced in 2009 to mitigate the rising scourge of cervical cancer globally. One hundred and seventy nine women aged 16 to 45 years who accessed the clinic for various immunization services and regimens participated in the study after the purpose of the research was explained and their informed consent sought and gained. The study revealed that though women’s awareness level about cervical cancer had increased, knowledge about the human papilloma virus and the vaccine was still poor. It identified some reasons for the low uptake of HPV vaccination and revealed that women were willing to be vaccinated if they were properly educated about the need for the vaccine which should be well subsidized by the government.