Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Human Papillima Virus Vaccination among Adolesecents Girls at Chiwempala Clinic, Chingola District

Abstract

Human papillomavirus is a common STI, it is a lead cause of cervical cancer in women internationally. Human Papillomavirus vaccines protect against infection caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV). Clinical trials have shown that HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing cervical infection. The vaccines are given before first exposure to the virus, which is before individuals begin to engage in sexual activity. HPV vaccines have also been found to reduce infections in other tissues that HPV infects, including the anus and oral region (Chaturvedi AK, 2018). Trials and real-world data from population-based studies have now demonstrated that the vaccines greatly reduce the risk of pre-cancers and cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in vaccinated women (Chaturvedi AK, 2018).In 2018, Zambia had the third highest incidence of cervical cancer in the world with 66.4 new cases per 100 000 women, despite having established the Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Zambia (CCPPZ) in 2006 (Anayawa Nyambe, 2021). Therefore, it is with no doubt that the issue of HPV vaccination is important in the fight against cervical cancer. Therefore, there is need for the issue to be tackled seriously. Although the Government has taken some measures to stem the uptake of HPV Vaccination, information that is available does not cover the status of the uptake in Chiwempala on the Copperbelt. This means little is known about HPV vaccination in Chingola’s Chiwempala compound. There is a need to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices they have on HPV vaccination. The aim of this study was to analyse the knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescent girls at Chiwempala clinic regarding HPV vaccination. The study was qualitative, it used phenomenology study design which looks to gather information that explains how individuals experience a phenomenon and how they feel about it. The study site was Chiwempala clinic, convenience sampling was used to recruit participants in the study and a semi structured interview guide as a data collection tool. The findings are under the following sub-headings; individual, interpersonal and service factors. A total number of 15 girls were involved in the study of which 70% were 14years old and 30% were 15 years old. 70% of the participants had no knowledge about HPV vaccination. Participants who had bad experience with vaccines had negative attitude toward HPV vaccination because of their past experience and concerns of about the safety, nevertheless, majority of the participants had positive attitude towards HPV vaccination especially after they understood the importance and the health benefits of been vaccinated. Generally, there was positive attitude among the participants. There were service delivery barriers to distributing the vaccine at the provider level that affected the administration of the three-dose series, to adolescents. These included less frequent visits to doctors, nurses and health educators by adolescents because of the health provider attitude towards the girls when they visit the clinic. The study analyzed the knowledge, attitude and practices of adolescent girls regarding HPV vaccinations at Chiwempala clinic in Chingola district. The study was qualitative, it used phenomenology study design. The site was Chiwempala clinic, convenience sampling was used to recruit participants in the study and a semi structured interview guide as a data collection tool.