Educational Approach on Knowledge and Intention to Uptake Human Papillomavirus Vaccination as a WHO’s Best Buy Intervention among Female In-School Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth leading cause of cancer among women worldwide, with high prevalence in low and middle-income countries due to insufficient public health information for prevention. Cervical cancer is a growing public health challenge in Nigeria due to the increasing age of sexual debut, unprotected sex, and frequency of sexual activity among young women. This study investigated the effect of an educational intervention on the knowledge, perception, and intention to uptake HPV vaccination among female adolescents in an urban school setting in Nigeria. Method: The study was a quasi experimental design (baseline and six-week post-intervention assessment). Baseline data, using a structured questionnaire, were collected in eight randomly selected secondary schools, with four designated as the intervention group and four as the control group. The intervention group participated in a one-day face-to-face educational session. After six weeks, a post-intervention assessment was conducted for both groups. Mcnemar and paired t-test inferential analysis was performed at p < 0.05. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of respondents’ knowledge, perception, and intention to uptake human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination at six-week post-intervention assessment for the intervention group compared to baseline. A statistically significant difference in the mean knowledge score, mean perception score and mean intention score was also observed six-week post-intervention between the control and intervention groups (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that face-to-face educational interventions are effective in enhancing knowledge perception and promoting the uptake of HPV vaccination for cervical cancer prevention among female adolescents in Nigeria.