Submission ID 129680
| Issue/Objective | Cervical cancer, driven by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), is a leading cause of cancer mortality among women in Sub-Saharan Africa, where vaccine uptake remains critically low. In Nigeria, adolescent girls in public secondary schools face compounded barriers: misinformation, cost, parental resistance, and limited healthcare access that entrench preventable mortality. This study assessed HPV vaccine knowledge, practices, and attitudes among secondary school girls in Maitama, Abuja, and identified socio-demographic determinants of vaccine uptake. It directly addresses CCGH 2026's call to center marginalized voices and advance gender and youth health equity. |
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| Methodology/Approach | A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted over six months (2024) at Model Government Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja. A total of 258 female students aged 12 - 18 were selected via stratified random sampling across six class levels. Structured questionnaires captured socio-demographic profiles, knowledge, vaccination history, and attitudes. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 32 participants generated qualitative depth. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression); qualitative data were analyzed thematically using NVivo. Triangulation strengthened overall validity. |
| Results | HPV vaccine uptake was critically low at 20.2%, with only 1.55% completing the full vaccination schedule. While 75% had heard of HPV, only 46% correctly linked it to cervical cancer, and 54.3% demonstrated good overall knowledge. Key barriers included lack of awareness of vaccine availability (41.3%), parental refusal (23.3%), and cost (14.1%). Despite this, 82.2% considered the vaccine important and 77.5% deemed it safe. Multivariable regression revealed that higher parental education (AOR=2.10; p<0.001), family income (AOR=2.80; p<0.001), and school health talk exposure (AOR=2.45; p<0.001) were significant predictors. FGDs surfaced misconceptions, including fears that the vaccine causes infertility or promotes sexual activity. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | This study reveals a stark equity gap: access to HPV vaccination is mediated by socio-economic privilege and systemic information barriers. Findings call for multi-level, rights-based action integrating HPV education into school curricula, subsidising vaccines for low-income households, strengthening healthcare provider outreach, and engaging communities to dismantle misinformation. Aligned with Sub-theme 2's emphasis on health equity, rights-based approaches, and gender equity, this evidence underscores that reclaiming global health equity must begin with ensuring no adolescent girl is left unprotected from a vaccine-preventable cancer. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Samuel Nwaokomah Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria Samuel Nwaokomah Innovations for Poverty Action |
