article · BMJ Open
A cross-sectional investigation conducted between December 2020 and February 2021 evaluated knowledge and acceptability of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among female adolescent students in Debre Tabor Town, Ethiopia. The study sampled participants from three high schools and six primary schools. Findings revealed that 59.2% of the surveyed students demonstrated good knowledge of the vaccine, while 61.9% indicated acceptability of receiving it. Older age and having access to an information source were significantly linked to higher knowledge levels. Furthermore, vaccine acceptability was significantly influenced by the student's place of birth, their father's educational level, access to information, and their baseline knowledge of the vaccine. Overall, the levels of knowledge and vaccine acceptability were considered low, leading to recommendations for targeted promotional efforts through mass media, schools, religious institutions, and healthcare centres.
Human papillomavirus causes significant health burdens, including cervical cancer, which can be prevented through timely vaccination. Understanding what shapes vaccine acceptance among school-age girls helps public health organisations design targeted communication campaigns. Addressing gaps in adolescent knowledge and family awareness can improve uptake and drive down future disease rates.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway for commercialisation, as it is an observational public health survey rather than a product development study.
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OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and acceptability of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and associated factors among female adolescent students in Debre Tabor Town, Ethiopia, 2021. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study was done from 9 December 2020 to 28 February 2021. ANALYSIS: The data were entered into EpiData V.4.2 and analysed with SPSS V.23 software. The OR, 95% CI and p<0.05 were used to determine the bivariable and multivariable statistical association. SETTING: Three high schools (grades 9 and 10) and six primary schools (grades 7 and 8) were included in the study. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescent female students in Debre Tabor Town. RESULTS: The overall knowledge score in the questionnaire was six, and it was divided into two groups based on scoring level: poor (score <3) and good (score ≥3). More than half respondents (59.2%) scored good knowledge. The proportion of acceptability of the HPV vaccine was 61.9%. Age (adjusted OR, AOR 1.70, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.88), and having a source of information (AOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.06 to 3.22) were significantly associated with the knowledge of the HPV vaccine. Place of birth (AOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.95), fathers' educational status (AOR 2.80, 95% CI 1.18 to 5.65), having a source of information (AOR 2.14, 95% CI 1.05 to 4.32) and knowledge about the HPV vaccine (AOR 6.41, 95% CI 3.45 to 11.90) were significantly associated with the acceptance of the female adolescent HPV vaccine. CONCLUSION: In this study, the knowledge and acceptability of students of the HPV vaccine were low. Health authorities, through the mass media, should strengthen HPV vaccine promotion in schools, religious institutions and health facilities.
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DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061813
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