Association between Knowledge of Cervical Cancer/Screening and Attitude of Teachers to Immunization of Adolescent Girls with Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Majority of the target population for HPV vaccination for the primary prevention of cervical cancer in Nigeria are found in secondary schools. Aim: To describe the knowledge and attitude of secondary school teachers in Abakaliki towards HPV vaccination, and determine if the attitude of teachers supports a possible role for teachers in promoting the uptake of the vaccine. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study involving secondary school teachers was carried out. Data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics at 95% confidence level using the SPSS software version 16. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: A total of 412 teachers participated in the study. Approximately 78% were aware of cervical cancer and 75% of these were aware of at least one method of cervical cancer prevention. Eighty-six percent of those aware of cervical cancer knew that HPV infection was the cause of cervical cancer; although only 40.3% of these knew that HPV vaccine that protected against cervical cancer was available in the city. Approximately 70% of teachers who were aware of cervical cancer were willing to recommend HPV vaccination to children under their care. Age ≥31 years, knowledge of cervical cancer screening, knowledge of the relationship of HPV to cervical cancer, and previous experience of cervical cancer screening, were significantly associated with acceptability of HPV vaccine by secondary school teachers. Conclusion: A good majority of secondary school teachers in Abakaliki were aware of the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine for preventing cervical cancer and over two-thirds of these were favourably disposed to recommending its use. Public health practitioners could therefore enlist teachers in programmes for influencing adolescent girls and their parents towards increased uptake of the vaccine in our environment.