Journal Article

Human papillomavirus vaccine delivery strategies that achieved high coverage in low- and middle-income countries

Mugisha, Emmanuel, Jumaan, Aisha, Gandhi, Sanjay, Le, Nga Thi, Uttekar, Bella Patel, Minh, Tran Hung, Nguyen, Nghi Quy, Kumakech, Edward, LaMontagne, D Scott, Tang, Yuxiao, Barge, Sandhya, Penny, Mary, Janmohamed, Amynah, Paul, Proma, Mosqueira, N Rocio

2011

Overview

To assess human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage after demonstration projects conducted in India, Peru, Uganda and Viet Nam by PATH and national governments and to explore the reasons for vaccine acceptance or refusal. Vaccines were delivered through schools or health centres or in combination with other health interventions, and either monthly or through campaigns at fixed time points. Using a two-stage cluster sample design, the authors selected households in demonstration project areas and interviewed over 7000 parents or guardians of adolescent girls to assess coverage and acceptability. They defined full vaccination as the receipt of all three vaccine doses and used an open-ended question to explore acceptability. Vaccination coverage in school-based programmes was 82.6% (95% confidence interval, CI: 79.3-85.6) in Peru, 88.9% (95% CI: 84.7-92.4) in 2009 in Uganda and 96.1% (95% CI: 93.0-97.8) in 2009 in Viet Nam. In India, a campaign approach achieved 77.2% (95% CI: 72.4-81.6) to 87.8% (95% CI: 84.3-91.3) coverage, whereas monthly delivery achieved 68.4% (95% CI: 63.4-73.4) to 83.3% (95% CI: 79.3-87.3) coverage. More than two thirds of respondents gave as reasons for accepting the HPV vaccine that: (i) it protects against cervical cancer; (ii) it prevents disease, or (iii) vaccines are good. Refusal was more often driven by programmatic considerations (e.g. school absenteeism) than by opposition to the vaccine. High coverage with HPV vaccine among young adolescent girls was achieved through various delivery strategies in the developing countries studied. Reinforcing positive motivators for vaccine acceptance is likely to facilitate uptake.

• Publisher: Organisation mondiale de la santé,World Health Organization,The World Health Organization
• Subject: Absenteeism / Acceptability / Acceptance / Acceptance tests / Adolescent girls / Adolescents / Biological and medical sciences / Campaigns / Cancer / Censuses / Central government / Cervical cancer / Confidence intervals / Demonstration projects / Developing countries / Dosage / Females / General aspects / Girls / Governments / Guardians / Health / Health facilities / Health promotion / Households / Human / Human papillomavirus / Immunization / LDCs / Low income groups / Medical sciences / Miscellaneous / Motivation / Organizations / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Qualitative research / Refusal / Respondents / School attendance / Schools / Strategy / Truancy / Uptake / Vaccines