Individual Characteristics of Caregivers to the Adolescent Girls. Do they Influence Initiation to Human papillomavirus Vaccination? A Cross-sectional Study.

Fred  Wangwa

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v3i6.125

Authors

Fred Wangwa Bugema University, P.O.Box. 6529 Kampala Uganda.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v3i6.125

Keywords:

Individual Characteristics , Caregivers, HPV

Abstract

Background

Initiation to the HPV vaccine is critical in the prevention of cervical cancer and failure to receive vaccines as recommended may aggravate the disease burden on the female population. Unfortunately, evidence indicates that initiation to HPV vaccination is still very low in Mbale district, Uganda, and sub-Saharan Africa at large. Hence this study is conducted to study the Individual characteristics of Caretakers of the adolescent girls under the care and how they influence the initiation of HPV vaccine aged 9 to 17 years in Mbale District, Eastern Uganda.

Methodology:

The study adopted a population-based cross-sectional study design in which questionnaires were used in the data collection process. The data were analyzed in STATA. Data was collected from 4th/01/2021 to 20th/05/2022.

Results:

The Individual factors that had a significant association with initiation to HPV were School Category, gender of caretaker, education level of caretaker, the religion of caretaker, caretaker’s place of residence, and employment category of caretaker. The rest of the variables did not have a statistically significant association with the initiation of HPV. No individual factors influenced the initiation of HPV vaccination after controlling for confounding effects.

Conclusion:

Individual characteristics play a role in influencing caretakers towards initiation to HPV vaccination when assessed in isolation.

Recommendations:

Families with cervical cancer history should be encouraged to initiate their adolescent girls to HPV vaccination at the recommended age of 9 years and ensure all the recommended doses are completed as these girls are highly susceptible to cancer.

Author Biography

Fred Wangwa, Bugema University, P.O.Box. 6529 Kampala Uganda.

The author was born on the 25^th of December 1985 to Mr. and Mrs. John and Suzan Makombe of Mbale district in eastern Uganda. He went to Bumbobi Primary School for primary education.

The author attained his certificate of education from Entebbe Secondary School, Then he attended a course in BCP from Bungokho rural development center where he excelled, and after joined All Nations Theological College and Seminary for three years and was awarded an Advanced Diploma in Bible and Theology. After that, the author proceeded to Bugema University, undertaking a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Counseling, where he excelled and was awarded a first-class degree.

The author has worked with various faith-based organizations, holding leadership positions, the most current being CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda where he is the director of Spiritual ministries.