Prevalence and Factors Associated With Uptake of the Second Dose of the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Among Adolescent Girls in Kawempe Division, Kampala

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Cervical cancer is a major public health problem and a leading cause of cancer related deaths among women in Uganda. Cervical cancer is caused by human papilloma virus. The ministry of health introduced HPV vaccine in the national routine immunization program which is given in two doses. Many adolescents receive HPV-1 but miss HPV-2; therefore don’t get full protection against the Human papilloma virus. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with uptake of second dose of the human papilloma virus vaccine among adolescent girls in Kawempe division, Uganda.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 550 female adolescent girls. Multi-stage random sampling was used to select the parishes and villages with the homes of the parents of the girls. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Uptake of the HPV-2 Vaccine was determined. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was conducted to determine factors independently associated with uptake of the second dose of HPV Vaccine.Results: The Uptake of the second dose of HPV Vaccine was 44.6% (245/550). The factors associated with HPV-2 Vaccine uptake were: knowledge about HPV vaccination services (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.26–2.79, P = 0.002), Satisfaction of adolescent girls about the HPV vaccination services (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.10–3.49, P = 0.022), access to HPV services by participants (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.13–2.34, P = 0.009), secondary level of education of adolescent girls (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.15–2.75, P = 0.010), the level of education of the participants’ father being Secondary (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.19–0.69, P = 0.002) and being Tertiary (AOR = 0.38, CI = 0.19–0.74, P = 0.005.Conclusion: The uptake of the second dose of the HPV Vaccine of 44.6% is still short of the Uganda’s national multi-year plan target of achieving HPV Vaccination coverage of 85%. Efforts to improve the uptake of second dose of the HPV Vaccine should focus on strengthening the school outreach programs so that both the first and second HPV vaccine doses are given at school.