Journal Article

HPV vaccination acceptance and perceptions related to fertility and population control in the Gambia: An anthropological analysis

Wilson, Rose J., Leigh, Lamin, Bah, Haddy, Larson, Heidi J., Clarke, Ed

2023

Overview

This qualitative study using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions is the first to investigate HPV vaccination in The Gambia; it provides an in-depth analysis of uptake, knowledge, and perceptions of HPV vaccination as well as trust in Ministry of Health vaccination advice. Despite high uptake rates, knowledge of HPV vaccination was low, and the most prominent concern was that the vaccine could cause infertility or is a form of population control. Holistic approaches to addressing HPV vaccine concerns relating to fertility that consider socio-political contexts, including colonial histories, could lead to more positive vaccine perceptions, empowered decisions and to increasing vaccine uptake rates in The Gambia and elsewhere.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Age / Allergy and Immunology / Cervical cancer / Consent / Data collection / Families & family life / Fertility / focus groups / Gambia / Girls / Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Health services / HPV vaccine acceptance / HPV vaccine and fertility concerns / HPV vaccine hesitancy / Human papillomavirus / Humans / Immunization / Infertility / Interviews / Medical screening / Minority & ethnic groups / Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control / Papillomavirus Vaccines - adverse effects / Parents & parenting / Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Population Control / Public health / Qualitative analysis / Qualitative research / Sexually transmitted diseases / STD / Teenagers / The Gambia / Vaccination / Vaccine hesitancy / Vaccines / West Africa / Womens health