Influence of parental consent on human papilloma virus vaccine uptake among girls aged 10-14 years in Kiharu sub county, Murang’a county

Abstract

Cervical Cancer, is the fourth most common cancer affecting women in the world is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The HPV is sexually transmitted with most people becoming infected at some points during their lifetime. There are more than 100 types HPV known today with HPV type 16 and 18 accounting for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases globally. Majority of the people become infected with HPV soon after becoming sexually active. Most of the infected persons are asymptomatic and the infection clears after a few months without any intervention. Almost in 90% of the persons clears within two years after infection, but a small proportion of the infected persons with certain type of HPV persist over time developing to precancerous lesions which if not treated further progress to cancer of the cervix. Cervical Cancer is vaccine preventable if young girls are immunized with two doses of HPV vaccines before they become sexually active. However, this is only achievable if Cervical Cancer prevention and control measures are implemented effectively. This study therefore exploredthe influence of parental consent on access to HPV vaccination among girls aged 10 to 14 years in Kiharu Sub County; Murang’a County. The objectives were to find out the level of knowledge on HPV among parent with girls 10-14 years, determine parental perception on HIP vaccination, determine individual factor affecting HPV vaccination and identify barriers for parent to give concept to HPV vaccination for girls aged 10 to 14 years. The researcher used adescriptive cross-sectional study approach where interview schedules was used to collect quantitative data. Random sampling method where Community Health Units (CHUs) within the study area were used as the sampling frame to identify the 309-study respondents.Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS. To test associations, among the variables Chi square test with P value of 0.05 was considered significant. The study revealed a significant relationship between level of education and acceptability of the vaccine (χ2=33.2, df=3, P=<0.003). The odds of accepting the vaccines for respondents aged less than 45 years to respondents aged more than 45 years showed that were 1.92 times likely to accept HPV vaccines compared to their (AOR: 1.92, 95% CI [1.1–2.7]). Perception of HPV vaccine wasstatistically significant (χ2=16.2.1, df=1, P=<0.005). Fear of side effects was the highest (43%) reported barrier. Individual with positive HPV perception 1.17 times likely to accept HPV vaccines compared for their girls compared to those categorized as having poor knowledge. The study revealed gaps in knowledge and individual factors such as fear of side effect which influenced on HPV vaccine uptake. The study further revealed negative perception for the vaccine as well as combination of individual, parental, cultural and health system factors influenced the uptake of the vaccines among the girls aged 10-14 years. Robust awareness creation program is required to demystify the fears and other individual and sociocultural factors that are influencing the HPV vaccine uptake in the study area and the County at large.