KNOWLEDGE AND UTILIZATION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS VACCINATION AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING GYNECOLOGY CLINIC IN GENERAL HOSPITAL ONITSHA, ANAMBRA STATE.

ABSTRACT Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection and is aetiologically linked with a number of health problem including cervical cancer which is the leading cause of cancer related mortality among women. Despite the introduction of HPV vaccines, there still remains low uptake of the vaccine. Therefore, the researcher assessed the knowledge and utilization of Human papillomavirus vaccination Among women Attending Gynaecology clinic in General Hospital Onitsha, Anambra state. The objectives were to assess the level of knowledge of women attending Gynaecology clinic in General Hospital Onitsha on Human papillomavirus vaccination, to assess their knowledge on the benefits of HPV vaccination, to determine the extent of their utilization of HPV vaccination and to identify the factors which affect the utilization of HPV vaccination. A descriptive survey design was used in carrying out this study. Simple random technique was used to select a sample of 100 women from a total population 250 women. Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection which was analyzed using statistical method. It was found out that the majority of the respondents have a good knowledge of cervical cancer and very few knew it is caused by Human papillomavirus and insignificant number of the respondents (19%) know that there is HPV vaccine. There was also a poor knowledge on the benefits of HPV vaccination. Majority of the respondents pointed out that the major factors affecting their HPV vaccination were poor information (=3.59), cost of the vaccine (=3.35), perceived un-susceptibility (=2.17), fear of the side effect (=2.26), and being unsure of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine (=2.52). The researcher hence recommends that health workers brace up in health education on HPV, HPV vaccination and it benefits. Government should subsidize the cost of the vaccine and establish a national HPV vaccination programme and that mothers should also vaccinate their children early before they become sexually active.