Thesis:

Factors influencing uptake of human papillomavirus vaccine among school-going adolescent girls (10-14yrs) in Kibra sub county, Nairobi city county, Kenya.

The fourth most common cancer in women is cervical carcinoma. In 2020, 604,000 cases of cervical carcinoma were reported worldwide. About 90% of the 342 thousand deaths happened in countries with low to middle incomes, where cancer treatment techniques are still insufficient. In Kibra Sub County, Nairobi City County, Kenya, the investigation sought to identify the aspects influencing school-age adolescent girls (10–14 years old)'s adoption of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine. The objectives of this investigation were to measure the level of HPV vaccine utilization, identify sociodemographic factors that affect it, analyze parental perceptions that affect it, and identify healthcare-based factors that influence HPV immunization uptake among school-age adolescent girls (10–14 years old) in Nairobi City County's Kibra Sub County. The investigation combined qualitative and quantitative data using an analytical cross-sectional study design. The Fischer formula was used to determine the study's sample size. 422 people made up the investigation's sample size. The schools were divided into public and private entities using stratified sampling. The samples for each group were calculated using proportionate random sampling. The schools and subjects for the study were chosen using simple random sampling. The Kibra sub-county was chosen on purpose. A researcher-administered questionnaire and key informant interviews were used to gather the data. Data analysis was done using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29. Frequencies, means, and percentages were employed in descriptive analysis. Bivariate and binary logistic regression chi-square tests were among the inferential statistical tests used to assess the degree of correlation between determining factors and immunization uptake. The school's research ethics committee, the Ministry of Education, and NACOSTI were among the authorities the researcher sought ethical clearance from. Before beginning the investigation, the participants had to give their informed consent. To determine the accuracy of the research tools, a pilot study was conducted. Additionally, the reliability of the research tools was established. The uptake of the vaccine for HPV in this research was 29.9% which is a public health concern. Attending a private school(OR=2.95%CI=1.17-3.26), easy access to HPV vaccination services(OR=2.7,95%CI=0.22-0.65), having guardians aged between 34-40 years(OR=4.7,95%CI=0.09-0.53), and having a positive perception of the HPV vaccine(OR=2.4,95%CI=0.26-0.66) amplified the odds of the HPV vaccine uptake. Study respondents' guardians who had a primary level of education(OR=4,95%CI=1.97-8.04), being Muslim(OR=1.9,95%CI=0.30-0.94), and the absence of vaccination programs for HPVs targeting school-going girls (OR=2.2,95%CI=1.36-3.46) reduced the odds of HPV vaccine uptake. In conclusion, the HPV vaccine uptake in this study was notably low at 29.9%, highlighting a significant public health concern. Key factors that positively influenced uptake included attending private schools, ease of access to vaccination services, guardians aged 34–40 years, and positive perceptions of the vaccine. Conversely, having guardians with only primary education, being Muslim, and the lack of school-based vaccination programs significantly reduced uptake. It is therefore recommended that targeted awareness campaigns be conducted, school-based HPV vaccination programs be strengthened, and access to the vaccine be improved, particularly among underserved populations.