A Literature Review of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions about Human Papillomavirus and HPV Vaccines in West Africa

Abstract

Background: Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted aetiologic agent causing cervical carcinoma. Human Papillomavirus vaccination is a novel primary prevention initiative to reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer glob-ally. For this altruistic effort to succeed, it is imperative to determine the knowledge and willingness of parents to present their adolescent girls for vac-cination before being sexually active. Methods: A review of 7 peer-reviewed studies was done to assess the level of knowledge and perceptions about HPV and its causal relationship to cervical cancer and the attitudes of parents to-wards allowing their adolescents to be HPV-vaccinated in West Africa. Find-ings: Some of the papers reviewed showed poor knowledge, awareness of HPV and cervical cancer, and poor attitude towards HPV vaccination, while a few participants in some studies showed a fair understanding of HPV and cervical cancer and were interested in accepting the HPV vaccine. However, there were barriers against a sizable uptake of the HPV vaccine in West Africa. Some of the militating factors against a high uptake of the HPV vaccines found were people’s poor health-seeking behaviours, poor enlightenment about HPV on the part of the sub-regional governments about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine, exorbitant cost of the vaccine and the unwillingness of parents to al-low their eligible adolescents obtain the HPV vaccine in West Africa which were related to their cultural beliefs and poor knowledge about HPV and cer-vical cancer. However, some of the results were confounding from region to region. Conclusion: Rigorous health education and enlightenment campaigns are urgently needed to inform and help people make informed decisions about the HPV vaccine and increase its uptake by adolescents. So, cultural beliefs, parents’ knowledge, and vaccine recipients’ knowledge about HPV and its many pathologies and barriers, which may militate against a sizable vaccine uptake, have to be taken into consideration before an effective vaccination programme can succeed in West Africa.