PROM SSCOL-Impact of a Papillomavirus Vaccination Promotion Program in Middle Schools to Raise the Vaccinal Coverage on Reunion Island.

Abstract

On Reunion Island, cervical cancer is the third most common cause of cancer in women. Primary prevention is based on the HPV vaccination, yet coverage rate is low (8.1%). The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of a health promotion program on the proportion of middle school girls who have completed the HPV vaccination schedule. In this prospective, controlled intervention study of superiority, 12 classes were randomly selected in an intervention school where the promotion program took place, and in a control school where no specific intervention was planned. The program combined: information to students during school classes, information to parents by letter and phone calls, information to general practitioners by letter and video conference call, and the free school-based vaccination (in a "health bus" parked in the schoolyard) with the nonavalent HPV vaccine. In the intervention group, the completion was achieved for 26 girls, which was significantly higher than in the control group (three girls, p < 10-3). The initiated vaccination was also higher in the intervention group (31 girls vs. 6 girls in the control group, p < 10-3). The same results were obtained for the boys as for the full or partial scheme (seven boys vs. 0, p = 0.01; 16 boys vs. 1, p < 10-3, respectively). Implementing a health promotion program and offering the free, school-based vaccination raised the vaccination coverage. These results are promising and may be a stepping stone to expanding this program to the whole Reunion Island and hopefully someday decrease the burden of cervical cancer.