Abstract:
WHO recommends vaccination against HPV for girls before sexual debut. Uganda started
HPV vaccination in 2008 as pilot programs in 2 districts, followed by national roll out in 2015.
Despite the availability of vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) in Uganda in the
period covered by the study, there was reported low HPV vaccine uptake and completion
especially of the second dose in Uganda; with little information available on timely comple-
tion of HPV vaccine and the associated factors in Uganda. This study was therefore done to
determine the HPV vaccine dose 2 completion and describe the possible factors associated
with timely HPV vaccine completion and non-completion among girls of age 9–14 years
attending the adolescent clinic at Mulago hospital.
A retrospective mixed methods study was conducted in Mulago National Referral hospital
adolescent clinic. Data were mainly collected through review of charts and folders for clinic
attendance by eligible girls and focus group discussions with eligible girls that completed the
2 doses of HPV vaccine on recommended/scheduled time.
Out of the 201 girls studied, 87 girls (43.3%) had timely completion of the HPV vaccination.
Knowledge about HPV infection and HPV vaccine benefits, positive peer influence and
healthcare worker recommendation to get vaccinated at health facility level positively influ-
enced timely completion of HPV vaccine. Among barriers to completion of HPV vaccine
identified were: inadequate information about HPV infection and HPV vaccine, concerns
about HPV vaccine efficacy and safety, unclear communication with adolescents/caregivers
from healthcare workers and -stock out of the HPV vaccine.
Timely completion of the second dose of HPV vaccine among girls attending the adolescent
clinic of Mulago hospital was low (at 43.3%) but higher when compared to earlier published
reports. Interventions around improved social mobilization, enhanced outreach and static
vaccination approach and education of eligible girls on HPV vaccination can help increase
vaccine uptake