HPV Vaccine Uptake among Girls Essay

HPV Vaccine Uptake among Girls Aged Fourteen to Nineteen

While most cases of the Human papillomavirus or HPV have no symptoms, persistent genital HPV has been found to cause cervical cancer.  The latter is the fourth most common cancer affecting women, with an estimated 270,000 deaths and roughly 530,000 new cases annually. While about 85% of the disease’s global burden occurs in developing countries, research has shown that only 51.1% of teenagers were vaccinated against HPV in the United States in 2017. This, therefore, calls for measures aimed at improving the uptake of this vaccine, particularly among teenage girls between the ages of fourteen and nineteen, as a means of preventing this form of cancer. The above can be achieved by educating both parents and teenagers on the risk factors, complications, and preventative measures of HPV.HPV Vaccine Uptake among Girls Essay

A study by Cruz et al. (2017) would confirm that physicians play an important role in the uptake of HPV vaccinations. In the study, 70% of mothers who participated stated that they had been aware of the HPV vaccine from their physician. This result reinforced several other studies on the impact of a strong recommendation from a physician on HPV vaccine uptake.  Cruz et al. (2017) suggest that educational brochures on the vaccine in question could further supplement and stimulate the discussion that the clinical encounter had established. It is also significantly important to avail educational materials on this vaccine to minority populations and developing areas. Many people in these groups find themselves with limited access to healthcare and healthcare-related materials.

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Another educational intervention by Masika et al. (2015) would sample 840 self-identified parents showed that 75% of parents reported a significant increase of knowledge relating to HPV as well as an increase in acceptance of admission of the vaccine to their adolescent children. A similar result was found in a study involving men between the ages of 35 and 45 who were educated on this disease and then offered a questionnaire with 29 questions to fill. The results showed that 33% of the men were not only willing to have the vaccine administered to their children, but they also wanted to receive the vaccine themselves.

McBride and Singh (2018) sampled schoolteachers who reported they were demotivated to organize any school-based HPV vaccination program. This was due to their perceptions and the different cultural and social factors surrounding the disease. As teachers are significant influencers of children in their adolescent years, schools and school teachers require more support and more information on organizing HPV vaccination programs to complement the successes of education by physicians and other medical practitioners. This can be aided through also demystifying the disease. For example, studies have shown HPV vaccination in people within the recommended age is not associated with increased sexual activity or sexual activity outcomes for up to three years following vaccination.HPV Vaccine Uptake among Girls Essay

Conclusion

Educational programs and interventions have substantially increased knowledge about HPV and its vaccine’s acceptability among parents. Therefore, public health advocates need to enforce these educational interventions while healthcare practitioners also continue to increase the uptake of this vaccine.

References

Cruz, M. R. I. D., Tsark, J. A. U., Chen, J. J., Albright, C. L., & Braun, K. L. (2017). Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination motivators, barriers, and brochure preferences among parents in multicultural Hawai ‘i: a qualitative study. Journal of Cancer Education32(3), 613-621.

Masika, M. M., Ogembo, J. G., Chabeda, S. V., Wamai, R. G., & Mugo, N. (2015). Knowledge on HPV vaccine and cervical cancer facilitates vaccine acceptability among school teachers in Kitui County, Kenya. PLoS One, 10(8), e0135563.

McBride, K. R., & Singh, S. (2018). Predictors of adults’ knowledge and awareness of HPV, HPV-associated cancers, and the HPV vaccine: implications for health education. Health Education & Behavior, 45(1), 68-76.HPV Vaccine Uptake among Girls Essay