EVALUATION OF AWARENESS AND READINESS TO INVEST IN HPV VACCINE AMONG WOMEN WITH DOCUMENTED HIV STATUS IN OYO STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the level of awareness and financial preparedness of women with confirmed HIV status in Oyo State regarding the HPV vaccine. The results indicated a limited inclination among these women to invest in HPV vaccines in the surveyed region. The Health Promotion Model served as the framework for the study, utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional research approach. A multi-stage sampling method was employed to select 397 women living with HIV in the study area, and data were collected through a pretested self-structured questionnaire. The collected data were coded and entered into SPSS version 23.0 for analysis, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques with significance levels set at p≤0.05.

The mean age of the respondents was 44.18 ± 9.54 years, with 45.1% having secondary education as their highest educational qualifications. Knowledge levels were observed, with 15.9% and 53.4% having good knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer, respectively. Only 17.1% demonstrated good knowledge of the HPV vaccine, while 16.1% expressed a willingness to pay for it. Additionally, 58.9% were willing to have their daughters vaccinated, and 55.4% acknowledged a willingness to cover the cost of their daughters' vaccine. Education status was found to be significantly associated with women's knowledge of HPV (p<0.05), and age and marital status were significantly associated with knowledge of cervical cancer (p<0.05).

The study's findings indicate a lack of awareness among women with confirmed HIV status regarding HPV, cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine. Moreover, only a small percentage of women showed a readiness to bear the cost of the HPV vaccine, and slightly more than half were open to having their daughters vaccinated. Thus, there is a critical need to enhance awareness and provide comprehensive medical education to women with confirmed HIV status regarding HPV, given its crucial role in preventing cervical cancer.