Intent to Receive Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among School-going Pre-teens and Adolescent Girls

Adolescents (9-19 years) make up 22% of Nigeria's population and represent a key target group for human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention initiatives. Although the effectiveness of HPV vaccination in preventing cervical cancer is well-established, gaps in awareness and intention to vaccinate persist among this age group. This study aimed to assess the willingness to receive the HPV vaccine among adolescent students in Kano State, Nigeria.

A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 381 female adolescents aged 9-19 years in Kano State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used for group comparisons, and multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with vaccination intention.

Of the 381 adolescent schoolgirls surveyed, 62.5% expressed a positive intention to receive the HPV vaccine. Positive intention was significantly associated with being in junior secondary school, from a middle- or high-income family, and of Hausa ethnicity. Adolescents who discussed HPV vaccination with their parents were nearly 40 times as likely to express positive intent (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 39.8, confidence interval [CI]: 5.87-437, p < 0.001) while those who discussed it with peers were significantly less likely to have positive intent to receive HPV vaccine (AOR = 0.09, CI: 0.01-0.52, p = 0.018). Surprisingly, higher levels of confidence in the vaccine's effectiveness were inversely associated with intention to vaccinate.

The findings of this study highlight the need to enhance HPV awareness through parental education, peer-led discussions, and school-based vaccination programs. Discussions with parents emerged as the most significant factor associated with positive intent to vaccinate, suggesting that parental influence plays the most important role in adolescent girl vaccine acceptance.