Lubeya Mwansa Ketty, Chibwesha Carla J, Mwanahamuntu Mulindi, Mukosha Moses, Frank Simone, Kawonga Mary
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Women and Newborn Hospital, University Teaching Hospitals, Lusaka, Zambia.
Front Health Serv. 2023 Sep 13;3:1208458. doi: 10.3389/frhs.2023.1208458. eCollection 2023.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an important preventive measure for HPV-related conditions such as cervical cancer. In 2019, Zambia introduced a free national HPV vaccination program for 14-year-old girls. However, the adolescents' knowledge and perceptions regarding the HPV vaccine are not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to understand adolescent girls' knowledge and perceptions regarding the HPV vaccine and discuss its acceptability and uptake implications.
We conducted a qualitative study in the Lusaka district between June 2021 and November 2021 using semi-structured interviews with adolescent girls aged 15-18 years regardless of their HPV vaccination status. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and NVIVO 12 was used for data management and analysis. We coded transcripts deductively and inductively based on emerging themes. Perceptions were coded using the health belief model constructs.
We interviewed 30 adolescent girls to reach saturation. Seventeen girls reported having received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Participants expressed variable knowledge and awareness about HPV and the HPV vaccine. Participants exhibited positive attitudes towards the HPV vaccine and perceived it as beneficial. However, there were multiple perceived barriers to vaccination, such as the need for parental consent, not being in school, concerns about vaccine side effects, and belief in myths and misinformation.
The adolescent girls in this study showed variable knowledge and positive attitudes toward the HPV vaccine despite the many perceived barriers. To support increased HPV vaccine acceptability and uptake among adolescent girls in Zambia, it is critical to actively engage stakeholders involved in HPV vaccination, such as adolescents and their parents, and debunk myths and misconceptions about HPV vaccination. Health education in schools and communities should be implemented to increase knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccination among adolescents and their parents.
人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）疫苗接种是预防宫颈癌等HPV相关疾病的重要措施。2019年，赞比亚为14岁女孩推出了免费的全国HPV疫苗接种计划。然而，青少年对HPV疫苗的知识和认知情况尚不清楚。因此，本研究旨在了解青春期女孩对HPV疫苗的知识和认知，并探讨其可接受性和接种影响。
2021年6月至2021年11月期间，我们在卢萨卡区进行了一项定性研究，对15 - 18岁的青春期女孩进行了半结构化访谈，无论其HPV疫苗接种状况如何。访谈内容逐字记录，并用NVIVO 12进行数据管理和分析。我们根据新出现的主题对转录本进行演绎和归纳编码。使用健康信念模型构建对认知进行编码。
我们采访了30名青春期女孩以达到饱和状态。17名女孩报告至少接种了一剂HPV疫苗。参与者对HPV和HPV疫苗的知识和认知程度各不相同。参与者对HPV疫苗持积极态度，并认为它有益。然而，接种疫苗存在多种可感知的障碍，如需要父母同意、不在学校、担心疫苗副作用以及相信谣言和错误信息。
尽管存在许多可感知的障碍，但本研究中的青春期女孩对HPV疫苗的知识和态度各不相同且呈积极态度。为了提高赞比亚青春期女孩对HPV疫苗的可接受性和接种率，积极让参与HPV疫苗接种的利益相关者（如青少年及其父母）参与进来，并消除有关HPV疫苗接种的谣言和误解至关重要。应在学校和社区开展健康教育，以增加青少年及其父母对HPV和HPV疫苗接种的了解。
