Maternal & Child Health Program, IRD Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan.
IRD Global, Singapore, Singapore.
Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022 Nov 30;18(5):2045856. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2045856. Epub 2022 Mar 3.
Vaccination of adolescent girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) significantly reduces the incidence of cervical cancer. HPV vaccines are available in Pakistan but plans to develop HPV vaccination program are at a nascent stage. We conducted a formative study to explore adolescent girls' knowledge and perspectives on HPV and cervical cancer and collect their recommendations for implementing an HPV vaccination program in their community.
Using qualitative exploratory study design, we conducted four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 12 adolescent girls per group in District West, Karachi. We recruited unmarried girls aged 16-19 years from schools and community settings between May-December 2020. Data analysis was done using NVivo.
Overall, participants displayed a positive attitude toward HPV vaccine. However, they were unfamiliar with basic concepts related to female reproductive health. Female relatives were indicated as girls' preferred point of contact for discussions on HPV and cervical cancer, but fathers were portrayed as decision-making authority on vaccination. Participants indicated vaccine hesitancy among parents may affect HPV vaccination uptake. Girls suggested individual household visits and community-based camps as strategies for successful implementation of HPV vaccination program. A solid foundation of trust between girls' families, program managers, and other stakeholders emerged as a key asset for the program's success.
Adolescent girls' suggestions of informing key decision-makers in the family (particularly fathers) of the benefits of HPV vaccination, establishing trust with vaccine providers, and increasing accessibility of vaccinations should be explored for successful implementation of an HPV vaccination program in Pakistan.
为少女接种人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）疫苗可显著降低宫颈癌的发病率。HPV 疫苗在巴基斯坦已经上市，但 HPV 疫苗接种计划的规划仍处于起步阶段。我们进行了一项形成性研究，以探讨少女对 HPV 和宫颈癌的认知和看法，并收集她们对在社区实施 HPV 疫苗接种计划的建议。
我们在卡拉奇西区采用定性探索性研究设计，对每个组的 12 名年龄在 16-19 岁的未婚少女进行了 4 次焦点小组讨论（FGD）。我们于 2020 年 5 月至 12 月在学校和社区环境中招募了这些女孩。使用 NVivo 进行数据分析。
总体而言，参与者对 HPV 疫苗持积极态度。然而，他们对女性生殖健康相关的基本概念并不熟悉。女性亲属被视为女孩讨论 HPV 和宫颈癌的首选联系人，但父亲被描绘为接种疫苗的决策权威。参与者表示，父母的疫苗犹豫可能会影响 HPV 疫苗接种率。女孩们建议采用个别家访和社区营地作为 HPV 疫苗接种计划成功实施的策略。女孩们的家庭、计划管理者和其他利益相关者之间建立信任的坚实基础，被认为是该计划成功的关键资产。
为了在巴基斯坦成功实施 HPV 疫苗接种计划，应探讨告知家庭中的关键决策者（特别是父亲）HPV 疫苗接种的益处、与疫苗提供者建立信任以及增加疫苗接种的可及性等建议。
