Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Community Health
Published in: Journal of Community Health 5/2012

01-10-2012 | Original Paper

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Community-Based Sensitization Strategy in Creating Awareness About HPV, Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccine Among Parents in North West Cameroon

Authors: Richard G. Wamai, Claudine Akono Ayissi, Geofrey O. Oduwo, Stacey Perlman, Edith Welty, Simon Manga, Javier Gordon Ogembo

Published in: Journal of Community Health | Issue 5/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

In 2010, the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) received a donation of HPV vaccine (Gardasil®) to immunize girls of ages 9–13 years in the North West Region of Cameroon. We evaluated the effectiveness of the CBCHS campaign program in sensitizing parents/guardians to encourage HPV vaccine uptake, identified factors that influence parents’ decisions to vaccinate girls, and examined the uptake of cervical cancer screening among mothers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in four healthcare facilities run by CBCHS, churches and other social settings. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed and 317 were used for the analysis. There were high levels of awareness about cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine. 75.5% understood HPV is sexually transmitted and 90.3% were aware of the use of vaccine as a preventive measure. Effectiveness of the vaccine (31.8%) and side effects/safety (18.4%) were the major barriers for parents to vaccinate their daughters. Bivariate analysis further revealed that the level of education (p = 0.0006), income level (p = 0.0044) and perceived risks (p = 0.0044) are additional factors influencing parents’ decisions to vaccinate girls. 35.3% of women had sought a cervical cancer screening, significantly higher than the general estimated rate of screening (<10%) in other parts of Cameroon and sub-Saharan Africa. These results support the viability of a community-tailored sensitization strategy to increase awareness among the targeted audience of parents/guardians, who are critical decision-makers for vaccine delivery to children.
Literature
1.
Allen, J. D., Othus, M. K., Shelton, R. C., Li, Y., Norman, N., Tom, L., et al. (2010). Parental decision making about the HPV vaccine. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 19(9), 2187–2198.PubMedCrossRef
2.
Davis, K., Dickman, E. D., Ferris, D., & Dias, J. K. (2004). Human papillomavirus vaccine acceptability among parents of 10- to 15-year-old adolescents. Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, 8(3), 188.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Lazcano-Ponce, E., Rivera, L., Arillo-Santillán, E., Salmeron, J., Hernández-Avila, M., & Muñoz, N. (2001). Acceptability of a human papillomavirus (HPV) trial vaccine among mothers of adolescents in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Archives of Medical Research, 32(3), 243–247.PubMedCrossRef
4.
Mays, R. M., Sturm, L. A., & Zimet, G. D. (2004). Parental perspectives on vaccinating children against sexually transmitted infections. Social Science and Medicine, 58(7), 1405–1413.PubMedCrossRef
5.
Basu, P., & Mittal, S. (2011). Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccine among the urban, affluent and educated parents of young girls residing in Kolkata, Eastern India. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 37(5), 393–401.
6.
Black, L. L., Zimet, G. D., Short, M. B., Sturm, L., & Rosenthal, S. L. (2009). Literature review of human papillomavirus vaccine acceptability among women over 26 years. Vaccine, 27(11), 1668–1673.PubMedCrossRef
7.
Francis, S. A., Nelson, J., Liverpool, J., Soogun, S., Mofammere, N., & Thorpe, R. J., Jr. (2010). Examining attitudes and knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer risk among female clinic attendees in Johannesburg, South Africa. Vaccine, 28(50), 8026–8032.PubMedCrossRef
8.
McRee, A. L., Reiter, P. L., Gottlieb, S. L., & Brewer, N. T. (2011). Mother-daughter communication about HPV vaccine. Journal of Adolescent Health, 48(3), 314–317.PubMedCrossRef
9.
Agosti, J. M., & Goldie, S. J. (2007). Introducing HPV vaccine in developing countries–key challenges and issues. The New England Journal of Medicine, 356(19), 1908–1910.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Biddlecom, A., Awusabo-Asare, K., & Bankole, A. (2009). Role of parents in adolescent sexual activity and contraceptive use in four African countries. International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 35(2), 72–81.PubMedCrossRef
11.
Biddlecom, A., Bankole, A., & Patterson, K. (2006). Vaccine for cervical cancer: Reaching adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet, 367(9519), 1299–1300.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Kepka, D., Coronado, G. D., Rodriguez, H. P., & Thompson, B. (2011). Evaluation of a radionovela to promote HPV vaccine awareness and knowledge among hispanic parents. Journal of Community Health, 36(6), 957–965.PubMedCrossRef
13.
Campos, N. G., Kim, J. J., Castle, P. E., Ortendahl, J. D., O’Shea, M., Diaz, M., et al. (2011). Health and economic impact of HPV 16/18 vaccination and cervical cancer screening in Eastern Africa. International Journal of Cancer. doi:10.​1002/​ijc.​26269. [Epub ahead of print].
14.
Louie, K. S., De Sanjose, S., & Mayaud, P. (2009). Epidemiology and prevention of human papillomavirus and cervical cancer in sub Saharan Africa: A comprehensive review. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 14(10), 1287–1302.PubMedCrossRef
15.
Biellik, R., Levin, C., Mugisha, E., LaMontagne, D. S., Bingham, A., Kaipilyawar, S., et al. (2009). Health systems and immunization financing for human papillomavirus vaccine introduction in low-resource settings. Vaccine, 27(44), 6203–6209.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Bingham, A., Drake, J. K., & LaMontagne, D. S. (2009). Sociocultural issues in the introduction of human papillomavirus vaccine in low-resource settings. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 163(5), 455–461.PubMedCrossRef
17.
Mbakop, A., Yomi, J., Yankeum, J., Nkegoum, B., & Mouelle Sone, A. (1997). Cancer localisation in men and women aged over 50 in Cameroon. Bull Cancer, 84(12), 1119–1122.PubMed
18.
Nghi, N. Q., Lamontagne, D. S., Bingham, A., Rafiq, M., le Mai, T. P., Lien, N. T., et al. (2010). Human papillomavirus vaccine introduction in Vietnam: Formative research findings. Sex Health, 7(3), 262–270.PubMedCrossRef
19.
Walboomers, J. M., Jacobs, M. V., Manos, M. M., Bosch, F. X., Kummer, J. A., Shah, K. V., et al. (1999). Human papillomavirus is a necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer worldwide. Journal of Pathology, 189(1), 12–19.PubMedCrossRef
20.
Saini, R., Khim, T. P., Rahman, S. A., Ismail, M., & Tang, T. H. (2010). High-risk human papillomavirus in the oral cavity of women with cervical cancer, and their children. Virology, 7, 131.CrossRef
21.
Cutts, F. T., Franceschi, S., Goldie, S., Castellsague, X., de Sanjose, S., Garnett, G., et al. (2007). Human papillomavirus and HPV vaccines: A review. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 85(9), 719–726.PubMedCrossRef
22.
Farmer, P., Frenk, J., Knaul, F. M., Shulman, L. N., Alleyne, G., Armstrong, L., et al. (2010). Expansion of cancer care and control in countries of low and middle income: A call to action. Lancet, 376(9747), 1186–1193.PubMedCrossRef
23.
Franco, E. L., Tsu, V., Herrero, R., Lazcano-Ponce, E., Hildesheim, A., Munoz, N., et al. (2008). Integration of human papillomavirus vaccination and cervical cancer screening in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vaccine, 26(Suppl 11), L88–L95.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Burd, E. M. (2003). Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 16(1), 1–17.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Govan, V. A. (2008). A novel vaccine for cervical cancer: Quadrivalent human papillomavirus (types 6, 11, 16 and 18) recombinant vaccine (Gardasil). Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 4(1), 65–70.PubMed
26.
27.
Anorlu, R. I. (2008). Cervical cancer: The sub-Saharan African perspective. Reproductive Health Matters, 16(32), 41–49.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Denny, L., Quinn, M., & Sankaranarayanan, R. (2006). Chapter 8: Screening for cervical cancer in developing countries. Vaccine, 24(Suppl 3), S3/71–S3/77.
29.
Munoz, N., Bosch, F. X., Castellsague, X., Diaz, M., de Sanjose, S., Hammouda, D., et al. (2004). Against which human papillomavirus types shall we vaccinate and screen? The international perspective. International Journal of Cancer, 111(2), 278–285.CrossRef
30.
Ponten, J., Adami, H. O., Bergstrom, R., Dillner, J., Friberg, L. G., Gustafsson, L., et al. (1995). Strategies for global control of cervical cancer. International Journal of Cancer, 60(1), 1–26.CrossRef
31.
32.
Bruni, L., Diaz, M., Castellsague, X., Ferrer, E., Bosch, F. X., & de Sanjose, S. (2010). Cervical human papillomavirus prevalence in 5 continents: Meta-analysis of 1 million women with normal cytological findings. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 202(12), 1789–1799.PubMedCrossRef
33.
Tebeu, P. M., Major, A. L., Rapiti, E., Petignat, P., Bouchardy, C., Sando, Z., et al. (2008). The attitude and knowledge of cervical cancer by Cameroonian women; a clinical survey conducted in Maroua, the capital of Far North Province of Cameroon. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 18(4), 761–765.PubMedCrossRef
34.
Winer, R. L., Hughes, J. P., Feng, Q., O’Reilly, S., Kiviat, N. B., Holmes, K. K., et al. (2006). Condom use and the risk of genital human papillomavirus infection in young women [Evaluation StudiesResearch Support, N.I.H., Extramural]. The New England Journal of Medicine, 354(25), 2645–2654.PubMedCrossRef
35.
Zondervan, K. T., Carpenter, L. M., Painter, R., & Vessey, M. P. (1996). Oral contraceptives and cervical cancer–further findings from the Oxford Family Planning Association contraceptive study [Multicenter Study]. British Journal of Cancer, 73(10), 1291–1297.PubMedCrossRef
36.
Becker-Dreps, S. I., Biddle, A. K., Pettifor, A., Musuamba, G., Imbie, D. N., Meshnick, S., et al. (2009). Cost-effectiveness of adding bed net distribution for malaria prevention to antenatal services in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 81(3), 496–502.PubMed
37.
Gichangi, P., Estambale, B., Bwayo, J., Rogo, K., Ojwang, S., Opiyo, A., et al. (2003). Knowledge and practice about cervical cancer and Pap smear testing among patients at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 13(6), 827–833.PubMedCrossRef
38.
McFarland, D. M. (2003). Cervical cancer and Pap smear screening in Botswana: Knowledge and perceptions. International Nursing Review, 50(3), 167–175.PubMedCrossRef
39.
Mupepi, S. C., Sampselle, C. M., & Johnson, T. R. B. (2011). Knowledge, attitudes, and demographic factors influencing cervical cancer screening behavior of Zimbabwean women. Journal of Women’s Health, 20(6), 943–952.PubMedCrossRef
40.
Katahoire, R. A., Jitta, J., Kivumbi, G., Murokora, D., Arube, W. J., Siu, G., et al. (2008). An assessment of the readiness for introduction of the HPV vaccine in Uganda. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 12(3), 159–172.PubMed
41.
Phongsavan, K., Phengsavanh, A., Wahlström, R., & Marions, L. (2010). Women’s perception of cervical cancer and its prevention in rural Laos. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 20, 5.CrossRef
42.
McCarey, C., Pirek, D., Tebeu, P. M., Boulvain, M., Doh, A. S., & Petignat, P. (2011). Awareness of HPV and cervical cancer prevention among Cameroonian healthcare workers. BMC Women’s Health, 11(1), 45.PubMedCrossRef
43.
Robyr, R., Nazeer, S., Vassilakos, P., Matute, J. C., Sando, Z., Halle, G., et al. (2002). Feasibility of cytology-based cervical cancer screening in rural Cameroon. Acta Cytologica, 46(6), 1110–1116.PubMedCrossRef
44.
Kitchener, H. C., & Symonds, P. (1999). Detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in developing countries. Lancet, 353(9156), 856–857.PubMedCrossRef
45.
Doh, A., Nkele, N., Achu, P., Essimbi, F., Essame, O., & Nkegoum, B. (2005). Visual inspection with acetic acid and cytology as screening methods for cervical lesions in Cameroon. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 89(2), 167–173.CrossRef
46.
Akmatov, M. K., & Mikolajczyk, R. T. (2011). Timeliness of childhood vaccinations in 31 low and middle-income countries. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. doi:10.​1136/​jech.​2010.​124651 [Epub ahead of print].
47.
Waters, H. R., Dougherty, L., Tegang, S. P., Nhan, T., Wiysonge, C. S., Kanya, L., et al. (2004). Coverage and costs of childhood immunizations in Cameroon. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 82(9), 668–675.PubMed
48.
49.
Lefevere, E., Hens, N., De Smet, F., & Van Damme, P. (2011). Dynamics of HPV vaccination initiation in Flanders (Belgium) 2007–2009: A Cox regression model. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 470.PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Assessing the Effectiveness of a Community-Based Sensitization Strategy in Creating Awareness About HPV, Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccine Among Parents in North West Cameroon
Authors
Richard G. Wamai
Claudine Akono Ayissi
Geofrey O. Oduwo
Stacey Perlman
Edith Welty
Simon Manga
Javier Gordon Ogembo
Publication date
01-10-2012
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Community Health / Issue 5/2012
Print ISSN: 0094-5145
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3610
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-012-9540-5

Other articles of this Issue 5/2012

Journal of Community Health 5/2012 Go to the issue

Original Paper

Ethnic Differences in Prevalence and Barriers of HBV Screening and Vaccination Among Asian Americans

Original Paper

Trail User Demographics, Physical Activity Behaviors, and Perceptions of a Newly Constructed Greenway Trail

Original Paper

Incorporating what Promotoras Learn: Becoming Role Models to Effect Positive Change

Original Paper

Energy Drink Use and Adverse Effects Among Emergency Department Patients

Original Paper

Attitudes Toward Hepatitis B Virus among Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean Americans in the Houston Area, Texas

Original Paper

Health, Access to Health Care, and Health Care use Among Homeless Women with a History of Intimate Partner Violence