Authors: Hilary Ngwu, Joseph Okoeguale, Emmanuel Friday Osagiede, Joseph O. Ikheloa, Peter Isabu, Anthonia Inibokun Njoku, Reuben Agbons Eifediyi, Ese Tracy Osagiede
Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death from gynaecologic malignancies in developing countries. Epidemiologic evidence clearly indicates that oncogenic Human Papilloma Viral (HPV) infection is the principal cause of cervical cancer. Vaccines against HPV have been developed, which provide effective protection against oncogenic HPV subtypes and have been available since 2006, however have been low uptake of this vaccine in Nigeria and many other developing countries.
Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain the level of awareness of cervical cancer and its prevention, perception and wiliness to accept HPV vaccine among women attending gynaecologic clinic in a rural tertiary health care facility.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 180 consecutive women attending Gynaecologic clinic at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Edo State Nigeria. They were given interviewer-administered questionnaire containing both closed and open-ended questions. Information recorded includes socio-demographic variables, knowledge of cervical cancer, and knowledge of HPV/HPV vaccines and acceptance of these vaccines for their adolescent girls.
Results: The study showed that only 18 (10.0%) out of the total respondents had heard about human papilloma virus (HPV) infection while 17 (9.44%) were knowledgeable about HPV vaccine. The mean age of the respondents was 32 years. Over 77.22% had at least secondary education. A total of 117 (65%) had the knowledge of cancer of the cervix while 63 (35%) had never heard about it. Among the respondents, only 11.51% and 10.79% of the respondent who have at least secondary level of education had knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine respectively against 4.87 and 4.87 percent of those who had primary education and less. Overall, 135 (75%) accepted that the
vaccines could be administered to their teenage girls.
Conclusion: Awareness of cervical cancer, HPV infections, and HPV vaccines is low among women attending gynaecologic clinic in ISTH, Irrua. However, majority of them would want their girls vaccinated against HPV infections. As acceptance does not mean awareness, there is a need for all stakeholders to step up awareness creation for improved HPV vaccination project in Nigeria.
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