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Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) remains a major public health concern, as it is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Uganda is ranked 7th in the world for cervical cancer with an incidence rate of 56.2 per 100,000 women and a mortality rate of 41.4 in 2020. Timely HPV vaccination prevents the majority of cervical cancers. However, the HPV vaccination rates for female in Uganda remain suboptimal at 66.2% (WHO 2022).
Methods: We conducted HPV vaccination and prevention knowledge trainings and focus groups amongst (N=65) healthcare students and faculty at Clarke International University in Kampala, Uganda in December 2022. The focus groups were audio recorded and reviewed for themes. A post-training survey, delivered electronically and in paper format, included questions about participants' demographics, HPV-related knowledge, and HPV vaccination receipt (N = 50). Four open-ended survey questions were asked (1- participants thoughts on strengths and 2- weaknesses of the training, 3- what they would like to know more about HPV and HPV vaccine, and 4- cervical cancer), and responses were evaluated using thematic content analysis procedures.
Results: Participants were female (69.6%), students (65.9%), and mostly aged 20-25 (57.14%). Five themes emerged from the focus group: patient anxiety surrounding test results, dissemination/education ideas, lack of resources, misinformation about HPV and the vaccine, and culture. Four themes emerged from the four qualitative survey questions: Side effects/effectiveness of the vaccine, prevention of cervical cancer, dissemination of information and presenter quality.
Conclusion: This half-day workshop allowed us to have a deeper understanding of the health climate in Uganda surrounding HPV and cervical cancer. Further HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention trainings are necessary to address persistent misunderstandings, false beliefs, and dissemination of inaccurate information. Establishing collaborative alliances in the future will enhance cervical cancer prevention endeavors in Uganda.