HPV

Background: The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes more than 95% of cervical cancer worldwide. HPV infection is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract. In Nigeria, prevalence is high across all female age groups, but is highest among persons aged 15-23 years. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and the most common cancer of the female reproductive tract. HPV-related diseases including cervical cancer can successfully be prevented by prophylactic vaccination. Objective: To determine the knowledge, sociocultural barriers, and hesitancy to HPV vaccine among caregivers of adolescents in Benin city, in order to decrease the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 397 caregivers of adolescents in Evboumore community, selected using multi-staged sampling technique. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires with open and close ended questions. Data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for the International Business Machines Corporation Social Science (IBM SPSS) version 25.0 software with statistical significance set at p < 0.05 and 95% confidence interval. Results: The response rate was 100%. Most of the respondents in this study were between the age group of 30 – 39 years with mean age (±SD) of 39.89 ± 8.97. Majority of the respondents had poor knowledge about HPV (72.8%) and HPV vaccine (80.9%). This study identified distance, misinformation and unavailability of the vaccines as the major sociocultural barriers to HPV vaccination. And 41.4% expressed hesitance towards future HPV vaccination of their adolescents.
Conclusion: Most of the respondents were not aware of HPV and HPV vaccine. Majority of the respondents had poor knowledge concerning HPV and HPV vaccine. Distance, misinformation and unavailability of the vaccines were identified as the major sociocultural barriers to HPV vaccination. About half of the respondents were vaccine hesitant