Abstract
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a well-known fundamental strategy in the prevention of cervical cancer, as it is always caused by HPV infection. In fact, primary prevention of the infection corresponds to primary prevention of HPV-related cancers and other diseases. Since an effective prevention at the population level is the final goal, it is mandatory for healthcare systems to achieve a high HPV vaccination coverage among the adolescents to reduce the circulation of the virus and the burden of HPV-related diseases. This research identified, through a systematic literature review, 38 papers on strategies adopted to increase HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents. The evaluated strategies targeted adolescents/parents and/or healthcare providers and could be grouped in three main types: (1) reminder-based, (2) education, information, and communication activities, and (3) multicomponent strategies. Several types of strategy, such as those relied only on reminders and integrating different interventions, showed a positive impact on vaccination coverage. Nonetheless, the heterogeneity of the interventions suggests the importance to adapt such strategies to the specific national/local contexts to maximize vaccination coverage.
Highlights
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most frequent sexually transmitted infections [1].More than 80% of sexually active women and men are expected to be infected by at least one Human Papillomavirus (HPV) type by the age of 45 years [2]
In order to collect scientific evidence related to the aim of the study, a systematic review of the literature was performed through the consultation of scientific databases and grey literature
(I) Every kind of strategy implemented in order to increase HPV vaccination coverage among the adolescent population (9–18 years) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of adolescents [26] and the WHO recommendation of HPV-vaccination was included [27]
Summary
More than 80% of sexually active women and men are expected to be infected by at least one HPV type by the age of 45 years [2]. In Europe, the prevalence of a detectable HPV infection in women is 14% but varies widely across countries and age groups, with a large peak during adolescence in many countries [1]. In most of the cases, HPV infections are transient and clear up within few months, but sometimes they can persist and progress to cancer. This may happen, in particular, if the infection is due to the so-called high-risk oncogenic HPV genotypes [3]. It is estimated that the vast majority of detected infection (over 70%) is due to these high-risk HPV genotypes, namely, HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73, and 82 [4], that are classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by
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