FACTORS INFLUENCING HPV VACCINE UPTAKE AMONG GRADE FOUR GIRLS: A CAREGIVER-BASED STUDY IN GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer in South Africa despite the availability of the HPV vaccination. The success of the HPV vaccine lies with the caregiver's acceptance, as their daughters cannot be vaccinated without their consent. This study aimed to determine the perception, acceptability, and uptake of the HPV vaccination among caregivers of girls aged 9-13 in the Tshwane sub-district of South Africa. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 368 caregivers who were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered, anonymised questionnaire between March and April 2020. Stepwise logistic regression was used to determine predictors for HPV vaccine uptake using STATA version 12. Ethical approval was obtained from the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University Ethics Committee. Results: The mean age of caregivers was 38 years (SD = 7.11). Most respondents were female (88%), black (94%), single (52%), and 45% had a secondary education. About half (48%) reported that their daughters had received the HPV vaccine, yet 68% were uncertain about the number of doses administered. The majority (74%) were vaccinated because of disease severity, followed by 8% citing effectiveness. Factors such as awareness of HPV vaccination, clarity of procedures, and understanding of the effects of the HPV vaccine were identified as being associated with the acceptance of vaccination (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study found that caregivers have limited knowledge about the HPV virus and HPV vaccination. Therefore, it is advisable to develop HPV vaccine programs specifically for caregivers with less education, focusing on vaccination schedules, recommended doses, and cervical cancer prevention.