BACKGROUND

There is no Government endorsed HPV vaccine immunisation program in Nigeria. The Vaccine has been available at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City for more than 7 years.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to evaluate awareness about HPV, the prevalence of HPV immunisation and its associated factors among the study population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study using interviewer-administered questionnaires among 215 females attending secondary schools in Benin city, Nigeria. Participants were selected using multi-stage stratified sampling. The primary outcome measure was HPV immunisation of the girls.

RESULTS

The majority of the participants were between 14 to 18 years (58.6%). Almost all the participants (>97%) had not heard of HPV, HPV Vaccines and Cervical cancer. In addition, 2 (0.9%) persons correctly identified that the virus can be transmitted sexually while only 1 person (0.5%) had received the HPV vaccine. The respondents all agreed that they needed to be enlightened about HPV, HPV vaccines and Cervical cancer. Majority (49.3%) of the girls suggested that this could be done through the mass media (49.3%) or their parents (32.1%).

CONCLUSION

HPV immunisation, knowledge of HPV vaccines and Cervical cancer among the study population was very low. We recommend interventions in Schools to increase knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV vaccines.