Factors influencing the acceptance of HPV vaccine among civil servants in Delta State Secretariat

ABSTRACT

Background: The importance of cervical screening and HPV vaccination cannot be overemphasized. Yet, the level of uptake of HPV vaccination has never been evaluated among Secretariat personnel in Delta State of Nigeria. This part-of-four piece of study aimed to identify the barriers to the acceptance of HPV vaccination in Delta State, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive survey method was adopted using a structured questionnaire. 285 participants were included. The structured questionnaire included questions on acceptance of HPV vaccination and the factors influencing acceptability. Statistical analysis included percentage proportions of respondents. Absolute and relative frequencies of the factors were also determined. Chi-squared analysis was performed based on dichotomy of participants based on yes/no response to being vaccinated.Results: Less than 8% of respondents have completed the HPV vaccination program. Low income earners have accepted the vaccination more than the high income group (p <0.003). Nature of work implying time constraints was an absolute factor. Accessibility is one of four factors that were significantly associated (p <0.002).Conclusions: Given the observation on nature of work and associated implication of time constraints and also inaccessibility as potentially major factors; it suffices to suggest that acceptance of HPV vaccination may be improved by expounding the days and sites of vaccination programs to be closer to the offices and scheduled around lunch-break times.