Background: Cervical cancer causes high morbidity and mortality rate, accounting for almost 7.5% of all cancer deaths in women worldwide. This is even higher in developing countries due to lack of screening campaigns, poor access to vaccine and late presentation to hospitals. Human Papilloma virus is the known causative agent for this deadly disease. Tanzania has recently introduced early age cervical cancer vaccine into routine immunization program, hence this aimed at determining the awareness, attitude and barriers towards Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination among young school girls in Nyamagana district, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Method: This was a cross sectional study which was carried out in Nyamagana district between June and July 2020. 383 participants were recruited through random sampling method. Data were collected using questionnaires to obtain information on awareness, attitude and barriers towards Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination among young school girls in Nyamagana district. Analysis on participants’ demographic characteristics, awareness, attitude and barriers towards Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination among young school girls was done using SPSS version 20.
Results: 90.3/383(%) of respondents had heard about HPV vaccination but the majority of respondents 228/383 (59.5%) were not aware of HPV was sexually transmitted. 266/383(69.5%) of the respondents said HPV vaccine was safe for them, while 241/383(62.9%) of the respondents were willing to get HPV vaccine. 29/383 (76%) of the students had sought HPV vaccination from health facilities without success. 36/383 (9.4%) were restricted to get HPV vaccine by their parents/guardians/religious leaders. Only 96/383 (25.1%) of the students had been recommended for HPV vaccine by parents/guardians/religious leaders. 111/383 (29%) of students claimed HPV vaccine caused reproductive system problems/infertility while 90/383 (23.5%) of them responded not to have enough knowledge regarding the importance of HPV vaccine and the consequences of not receiving it and 67/383 (17.5%) of them responded that they were afraid of injection.
Conclusion: Despite positive attitude regarding HPV vaccination, poor awareness about HPV vaccination among young school girls indicates a need not only of HPV vaccine but also HPV together with pre vaccination sexual health education to improve awareness towards it.
Recommendations: Education programs should be set to increase the level of awareness of HPV vaccine and cervical cancer to primary schools, secondary schools and general public.