Cervical cancer risk factors, knowledge and attitudes towards HPV vaccine among coastal Kenyan women: A prospective cross-sectional survey.

Abstract

e22515 Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death among women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite being a preventable disease. Currently, there is a global rolling out of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among young girls. However, the knowledge and attitude of Cervical Cancer and the HPV vaccine remain unknown among women in SSA. Methods: We conducted a voluntary cross-sectional survey among adult women attending the cervical and breast cancer screening during Breast Cancer Awareness month in October 2022 at the Coast General Teaching Referral Hospital Regional Cancer Center, Kenya. The demographic, cervical cancer risk factors, knowledge, and attitudes to the HPV vaccine data were collected and analyzed using descriptive analysis. Results: Two hundred and fifty women participated in the survey, of which 48% were native coastal people. Their mean age was 39.3 ±12.4, and the majority (61%) of the participants were married. The most common age onset of sexual intercourse was 21-30 years (50%), followed by 16-20 years (41%), while 7% were virgins, and a quarter (n = 67) reported having multiple sexual partners. Most (90%) of the participants knew screening and early detection of cervical cancer are associated with better survival. Nevertheless, only a third had been screened previously for cervical cancer. Concerning the cause of cervical cancer, half of the patients (n = 126) knew cervical cancer is caused by HPV, and only 45% (n = 111) were aware of the free national HPV vaccination program, with only 5 participants having been vaccinated against HPV. The most commonly sighted reason for not being vaccinated was lack of knowledge of the HPV vaccine's existence (50%), a third was afraid of the vaccine’s side effects, 10% was due to lack of access, and 3%- were due to the vaccine’s age limit. With regards to the willingness to be vaccinated if they had qualified and the HPV vaccine is available for free, only two-thirds were willing to be vaccinated. However, most (90%) would recommend it to young girls. The few who would not recommend the vaccine to young girls were due to fear and lack of knowledge about the vaccine (73%). Conclusions: There is an unmet need for awareness and understanding of the HPV vaccine, and sensitization is needed to improve its uptake. In addition, it will be worth reviewing the age limit of HPV vaccination among Kenyan women as most women are sexually active after 20 years.