International STD Research & Reviews

Knowledge and Uptake of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine among Female Adolescents in Port Harcourt. A Call for Urgent Intervention

Ibinabo Laura Oboro — 2023-01-13

Background: Infection with high-risk types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been associated with the development of cancers in both genders, affecting the genital, oropharyngeal and anal regions. Safe and effective vaccines are available against high-risk types which are responsible for majority of cases of cervical cancer. This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and uptake of the HPV vaccine among female adolescents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among in-school female students of both public and private secondary schools in Port Harcourt metropolis, aged 9 - 19 years. A total of 328 participants were recruited using multi-stage sampling. Information on socio-demographics, sexual history, knowledge of HPV, its vaccine and vaccine uptake were collected using a self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive and analytical tests were performed to determine associations and predictors of vaccine uptake.

Results: The level of knowledge of the availability, protective role, and schedule for administration of the HPV vaccine was poor (≤36%). Only 2.1% of girls interviewed were vaccinated with 42.9% of these having taken only one dose, thus being incompletely vaccinated. The mean age at vaccine uptake was 13.4±1.2 years. The most common reason given for not having taken the vaccine, is unawareness of the vaccine (322/328). Uptake of the vaccine was better among students at public schools.

Conclusion: Social mobilization towards primary prevention of HPV infection should also focus on adolescents. Social media and school health programs/ clubs should be exploited/ improved to provide detailed and adolescent-friendly information necessary to stimulate improved uptake of the vaccine and thus reduce the devastating potential consequences of infection with the HPV.

Uptake, Adherence and Retention of Daily Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Female Sex Workers in the Greater Gaborone City, Botswana

Mary Banyana Tiro — 2023-01-15

Introduction: Female sex workers are estimated to be 30 times more likely to be living with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus than other women of reproductive age and face an increased burden of sexually transmitted infections. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis was introduced in Botswana in 2018 as an addition to combination-prevention strategies. Since then, no study was carried out to assess the efficiency of PrEP as an intervention. This study aimed to assess the uptake, adherence and retention of daily oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among female sex workers in the Greater Gaborone City, Botswana.

Methods: Retrospective, quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out Between August 2018 and May 2020. Purposive sampling was used to select the study site and exhaustive sampling was used to select recorded participant’s data. Descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 26), frequency and proportions were used to organise and analyse the data. Multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the association between variables and p =.05 was considered significant.

Results: 207 Female sex workers participated in the study. Adherence to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis was high (72.9%) but retention was low (16.9%). Unemployed female sex workers adhered more to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and age group 18-29 was less likely to be retained in the programme. Perception of no longer at substantial risk to Human Immuno-deficiency Virus infection, loss of interest to continue with Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, drug side effects and busy life schedules were major reasons for non-retention.

Conclusions: Lack of motivation challenged effective Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis retention. Widespread messaging to communities and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis scale-up are necessary to generate demand and support for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis uptake among Female sex workers.