Peer-reviewed article
Perceived Barriers and Strategies to Improve HPV Vaccine Uptake: A Survey of Mothers in Dschang and Foumbot, Cameroon
Kamala Gumete Bienvenu Nkissi, Calvin Ebai Bisong, Flore Nguemaïm ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This cross-sectional survey asked 110 mothers or guardians of girls aged 9 to 14 in the Dschang and Foumbot health districts of Cameroon about HPV vaccination. About 60% said their daughters had not received the vaccine. Mothers named concerns about safety, distance to vaccination centres, vaccine unavailability and lack of information as barriers. Advice from a health worker was the most common influence on the decision to vaccinate. Mothers most often suggested awareness campaigns and school-based vaccination to improve uptake.
Key points
- 60% of participants reported that their daughters had not received the HPV vaccine.
- Reported barriers included lack of information (21.8%), vaccine safety concerns (30.9%), distance to vaccination centres (36.4%) and vaccine unavailability (34.6%); cultural or religious beliefs were also named.
- Healthcare provider recommendation was the main influence on the vaccination decision (40%).
- Proposed strategies were strengthened awareness campaigns (65.5%) and school-based vaccination programmes (56.4%).
- Better information, discussions with health providers and better access to services were significantly associated with HPV vaccination (p < 0.05).
Limitations
The sample is small (110) and drawn from two districts in West Cameroon, so results may not apply to other areas. Barriers and strategies are self-reported by mothers, and a cross-sectional design shows associations, not causes. The abstract does not describe how participants were selected.
Abstract
ABSTRACTIntroduction. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is the primary strategy for preventing cervical cancer. However, vaccination coverage remains low in Cameroon. This study aimed to identify women's perceived barriers to HPV vaccination among girls aged 9–14 years and to propose strategies to improve vaccine uptake in the Dschang and Foumbot health districts. Methods. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2025 to January 2026 among 110 mothers or guardians of girls aged 9–14 years. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed with RStudio using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results. Overall, 60% of participants reported that their daughters had not received the HPV vaccine. The main barriers identified were lack of information (21.8%), concerns about vaccine safety (30.9%), cultural or religious beliefs, distance to vaccination centers (36.4%), and vaccine unavailability (34.6%). Healthcare provider recommendations were the main factor influencing vaccination decisions (40%). School-based vaccination programs (56.4%) and strengthened awareness campaigns (65.5%) were the most frequently proposed strategies to improve vaccine uptake. Higher levels of information, discussions with healthcare providers, and better access to vaccination services were significantly associated with HPV vaccination (p < 0.05). Conclusion. HPV vaccination coverage remains suboptimal in West Cameroon. Strengthening public awareness, increasing healthcare provider involvement, implementing school-based vaccination programs, and improving vaccine availability could enhance vaccine uptake and contribute to cervical cancer prevention.RÉSUMÉ Introduction. La vaccination contre le virus du papillome humain (HPV) constitue la principale stratégie de prévention du cancer du col de l'utérus. Cependant, la couverture vaccinale demeure faible au Cameroun. Cette étude visait à identifier les obstacles perçus par les femmes à la vaccination contre le HPV chez les jeunes filles âgées de 9 à 14 ans et à proposer des stratégies pour améliorer l'adhésion vaccinale dans les districts de santé de Dschang et de Foumbot. Méthodes. Une étude transversale quantitative a été menée d'août 2025 à janvier 2026 auprès de 110 mères ou tutrices de jeunes filles âgées de 9 à 14 ans. Les données ont été recueillies par entretiens individuels à l'aide d'un questionnaire semi-structuré prétesté, puis analysées sous RStudio au moyen de statistiques descriptives et du test du chi-deux de Pearson, avec un seuil de signification statistique fixé à p < 0,05. Résultats. Dans l'ensemble, 60 % des participantes ont déclaré que leurs filles n'avaient pas reçu le vaccin contre le HPV. Les principaux obstacles identifiés étaient le manque d'information (21,8 %), les craintes concernant la sécurité du vaccin (30,9 %), les croyances culturelles ou religieuses, la distance jusqu'aux centres de vaccination (36,4 %) et l'indisponibilité du vaccin (34,6 %). La recommandation par un personnel de santé constituait le facteur majeur influençant la décision de vaccination (40 %). Les programmes de vaccination en milieu scolaire (56,4 %) et le renforcement des campagnes de sensibilisation (65,5 %) étaient les stratégies les plus fréquemment proposées pour améliorer la couverture vaccinale. Un niveau d'information plus élevé, les échanges avec les professionnels de santé et un meilleur accès aux services de vaccination étaient significativement associés à la vaccination contre le HPV (p < 0,05). Conclusion. La couverture vaccinale contre le HPV reste suboptimale dans l'Ouest-Cameroun. Le renforcement de la sensibilisation du public, une plus grande implication du personnel de santé, la mise en œuvre de programmes de vaccination en milieu scolaire et l'amélioration de la disponibilité des vaccins pourraient accroître l'adhésion vaccinale et contribuer à la prévention du cancer du col de l'utérus.