Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
PLoS One. 2018 Sep 17;13(9):e0203950. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203950. eCollection 2018.
Human Papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines for adolescents are pivotal in the control of cervical cancer, the commonest women specific malignancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Knowledge about cervical cancer have been reported to be low in Africa but expressed acceptability for HPV vaccines have been high. The reason for this mismatch is not clear. An understanding of the interpretation of cervical cancer and views about HPV vaccine are important as they can affect actual decision making regarding adolescents' uptake of HPV vaccine. This study explored contextual interpretations of stakeholders regarding cervical cancer and HPV vaccines for adolescents in five selected communities in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Qualitative data were collected through twenty focus group discussions among parents of adolescents, religious and traditional leaders, school teachers and adolescents; and four key informant interviews with the identified traditional healers in the selected communities. Constant comparison analysis was done after transcription.
Almost every group had at least one person who had seen a cervical cancer patient. Cervical cancer was widely viewed as being caused by promiscuity of women while older participants believed that the alteration of lifestyle by civilization was a major contributory factor. There was also a general notion that it was due to a curse. The role of HPV was generally not known. Most participants were favourable towards HPV immunization for adolescents but traditional healers and some religious leaders were not. The high cost of the vaccines and possibility of side effects where the main concerns about the introduction of HPV vaccine. Decision to take the vaccine rest with the fathers whose views were heavily influenced by traditional and religious leaders.
Awareness about cervical cancer may not be as low as earlier reported and there were many misconceptions about cervical cancer in the study communities. It is important to address these misconceptions to ensure successful introduction of HPV vaccine for adolescents in future.
青少年人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）疫苗在控制宫颈癌方面至关重要，宫颈癌是撒哈拉以南非洲最常见的女性特有的恶性肿瘤。据报道，非洲对宫颈癌的认识水平较低，但对 HPV 疫苗的接受程度较高。造成这种不匹配的原因尚不清楚。了解对宫颈癌的解释以及对 HPV 疫苗的看法非常重要，因为它们会影响青少年对 HPV 疫苗接种的实际决策。本研究探讨了在尼日利亚伊巴丹的五个选定社区中，利益攸关方对青少年宫颈癌和 HPV 疫苗的背景解释。
通过在青少年的父母、宗教和传统领袖、学校教师和青少年中进行二十次焦点小组讨论，以及与选定社区中确定的传统治疗师进行四次关键人物访谈，收集定性数据。转录后进行了常数比较分析。
几乎每个群体中都至少有一个人见过宫颈癌患者。宫颈癌被广泛认为是女性滥交的结果，而年长的参与者则认为文明改变生活方式是一个主要的促成因素。还有一种普遍的看法是，这是由于诅咒。HPV 的作用一般不为人知。大多数参与者都赞成为青少年接种 HPV 疫苗，但传统治疗师和一些宗教领袖则不然。疫苗的高成本和可能的副作用是引入 HPV 疫苗的主要关注点。接种疫苗的决定取决于父亲，而父亲的观点受到传统和宗教领袖的严重影响。
对宫颈癌的认识可能不像早期报道的那样低，而且在研究社区中存在许多对宫颈癌的误解。重要的是要解决这些误解，以确保 HPV 疫苗在未来能成功地用于青少年。
