Perceived barriers of human papillomavirus vaccination among students in selected secondary schools in lagos

<p>Olajumoke A Ojeleye</p>

Perceived barriers of human papillomavirus vaccination among students in selected secondary schools in lagos

Olajumoke A Ojeleye

University College of Medicine, Nigeria

: J Nurs Patient Care

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: While there is no known cure for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), prophylactic vaccination provides an effective method of primary prevention against HPV-related diseases. However, many females and males never receive the HPV vaccine as recommended. The study set out to investigate the perceived barriers to HPV vaccination among secondary school students in Lagos State, Nigeria. Methodology: The descriptive study was conducted among 500 male and female students from selected public and private schools located in education district 1 area of Lagos State between June and July 2016. A 44-item adapted questionnaire covering sociodemographic data, knowledge, and acceptance of the HPV vaccine and the perceived barriers of HPV vaccine with a reliability coefficient of 0.703 was used. Statistical analyses were both descriptive (frequency, means, and standard deviations) and inferential (Chi-square, ANOVA and logistic regression) a 95% confidence interval using the SPSS version 20. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Findings: The mean age of respondents was 14.4±1.7 years. The study established that over half (53.0%) of respondents agreed that being busy with school and extracurricular activities could hinder them from receiving HPV immunization. Most importantly, 71.0% accepted that inadequate information about the vaccine could serve as a barrier. Those who worried that there may be complications from taking HPV vaccine is a barrier were 52.8% while the majority of the respondents disagreed with all of the listed parental/ caregiver/guardian factors and concerns as a hindrance to accepting HPV immunization. Conclusion & Significance: It was recommended that teachings on HPV/HPV vaccine should be included into the syllabus of basic school and secondary school students in order to increase students’ knowledge prior to HPV-vaccination (school-based health education) and school nurses can be used to convey this information. Also, parents/teachers of pre-adolescents and adolescents should be given sufficient training on HPV/HPV vaccine and its link to cervical cancer as these people serve as decision-makers/ major influencers in the acceptance/uptake of HPV vaccine amongst adolescents, especially before they become sexually active