Attitudes and knowledge about HPV vaccination among Ghanaian women with cervical cancer

Abstract

Abstract Objective To explore knowledge about the human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccination, barriers to vaccination and acceptance of the HPV vaccine in the highest‐risk and most‐impacted population in Ghana. Methods A survey was administered to 100 women with histologically confirmed cervical cancer at a teaching hospital in Ghana. Results Participants had a mean age of 59 (±14.3) years, 65.0% had a parity of five or higher and 89.0% had a monthly income less than 500 Ghana cedis ($63 USD). Seventy‐nine percent of participants had a diagnosis of stage III or greater cervical cancer. Only 8.0% had heard of HPV and 4.0% knew that HPV caused cervical cancer. Fifty‐five percent had not heard of vaccines, in general; of the remainder, the majority endorsed that vaccines, in general, were effective (89.0%) and safe (95.0%). No participants had received the HPV vaccine. After a brief education session, 94% believed the HPV vaccine was effective and 65.0% were categorised as having ‘high vaccine acceptance’ after responding ‘definitely yes’ to recommending the HPV vaccine to female relatives, male relatives and the community. There were no significant differences in demographic variables or cervical cancer disease characteristics between the ‘high vaccine acceptance’ and ‘some vaccine hesitancy’ groups. Conclusion Although women with cervical cancer in Ghana have low awareness of HPV and HPV vaccination, they demonstrate high vaccine acceptability and low hesitancy.

Keywords

• cervical cancer
• HPV vaccine
• human papillomavirus vaccine
• sub‐Saharan Africa
• vaccine hesitancy
• vaccine knowledge