Background: Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted
aetiologic agent causing cervical carcinoma. It is the second most common cause
of female cancer. Concerned about the prevalence and mortality associated with
HPV and cervical cancer, the World Health Organisation (WHO) made a passionate
appeal in 2020 on the necessity and urgency of eliminating cervical cancer and
made it a top priority public health issue and hoped to achieve success through
cervical screening, case management, and HPV vaccination as a primary
preventive strategy globally. Human Papillomavirus vaccination is a novel
primary prevention initiative aimed at reducing the prevalence of cervical
cancer globally. For this altruistic effort to succeed, it is imperative to
determine the knowledge and willingness of parents to present their adolescent
girls for vaccination before they become sexually active.
Aim of the Study: The aim of the study is to evaluate the
degree of knowledge and perception of the aetiologic factors of cancer of the
cervix and the attitude of people to the HPV vaccine in West Africa.
Methods: A systematic computerised search was conducted
across four databases. The review included peer-reviewed English-language
studies published between 2018 and 2023.
Findings: Some of the papers reviewed showed poor knowledge,
awareness of HPV and cervical cancer, and a poor attitude towards HPV
vaccination, while a few participants in some studies showed a fair
understanding of HPV and cervical cancer and were interested in accepting the
HPV vaccine. However, there were barriers against a sizable uptake of the HPV
vaccine in West Africa. Some of the militating factors against a high uptake of
the HPV vaccines found were people’s poor health-seeking behaviours, poor
enlightenment about HPV on the part of the sub-regional governments about
cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine, exorbitant cost of the vaccine and the
unwillingness of parents to allow their eligible adolescents obtain the HPV
vaccine in West Africa which were related to their cultural beliefs and poor
knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer. However, some of the results were
confounded from region to region.
Conclusion: Poor knowledge and lack of awareness of what the
aetiologic factors of cervical cancer are, and the poor health-seeking
attitudes of people in the West African subregion are the harbingers of the
increasing prevalence of cervical carcinoma in the region. Rigorous health
education and enlightenment campaigns are urgently needed to inform and help
people make informed decisions about the HPV vaccine and increase its uptake by
adolescents. So, cultural beliefs, parents’ knowledge, and vaccine recipients’
knowledge about HPV and its many pa- pathologies and barriers, which may
militate against a sizable vaccine uptake, have to be taken into consideration
before an effective vaccination programme can succeed in West Africa. The
study’s limitations include heterogeneity in findings and focus on only two
countries, highlighting the need for broader, more representative research.
Author(s) Details
Foluso Bamidele
Afelumo
Department of Public Health and Health Promotion, Swansea University,
Swansea, United Kingdom.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/aodhr/v7/6516
No comments:
Post a Comment