Abstract
Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women in Cameroon. In November 2020, the HPV vaccine was introduced into the expanded programme on immunisation. However, uptake of the vaccine has been slow in the Centre region as opposed to other regions in the country. We therefore sought to describe vaccinators' perception of HPV vaccination in Saa health district.Methods: A self-administered questionnaire with both open-ended and closed questions was used to assess the perception of HPV vaccination among 24 vaccinators from the Saa health district. Quantitative data were summarised as proportions while qualitative data were deductively and inductively coded and thematically analysed.Results: Most vaccinators (75%, n = 18) had a good knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV vaccination. Fourteen (58.3%, n = 14) vaccinators correctly reported the target group, number and spacing of doses for the HPV vaccine. Fourteen (58.3%) vaccinators favoured HPV vaccination while the others (n = 10) were sceptical. Sceptics felt manufacturers hadn't given enough proof of the safety of the vaccine and lacked confidence in government's assessment of the epidemiological situation. The COVID 19 pandemic, fear of infertility and the negative influence of social media were perceived as the main reasons for community hesitancy. Vaccinators criticised health authorities for failing to sensitise the population about the HPV vaccine before its introduction.Conclusion: Vaccinators' perceptions of HPV vaccination may influence the offer of HPV vaccination services. Measures to increase acceptance of HPV vaccination and ownership of the activity among vaccinators have to be put in place.
Highlights
Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women in Cameroon
Cervical cancer is caused by human papilloma viruses (HPV) which are transmitted through sexual contact, with the most oncogenic types being HPV 16 and 18 [2]
We found that 75% (n=18) of the vaccinators had a good knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccination, 12.5% (n=3) had an average knowledge and the remaining 12.5% had poor knowledge
Summary
Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women in Cameroon. In November 2020, the HPV vaccine was introduced into the expanded programme on immunisation. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally despite the disease being preventable and curable [1]. To achieve the elimination target by 2030, WHO has spelt out three goals for countries to achieve; a) 90% of girls should be fully vaccinated by the age of 15 years; b) 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by the age of 35 years, and again by the age of 45 years and; c) 90% of women with pre-cancer treated. The HPV vaccine became available in 2006 [4] and globally as of May 2020, 52 countries had carried out demonstration projects and 128 had introduced the vaccine into their National Immunisation Programmes (NIP) [5]. Fortyone additional countries were scheduled to introduce the HPV vaccine into their NIP by 2023
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