Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Nigeria. Yet, it is one of the most preventable cancers through vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.
Recognising this opportunity for prevention, Team Game Changer is currently implementing a research and intervention project aimed at improving HPV vaccine uptake among adolescent girls aged 9–14 years in secondary schools across Abakaliki metropolis, Ebonyi State.
Why This Research Matters
Despite the availability of effective HPV vaccines, uptake remains low in many parts of Nigeria due to several factors including:
- Limited awareness about HPV and cervical cancer
- Misconceptions about vaccines
- Lack of parental knowledge and consent
- Limited visibility of HPV vaccination within routine immunization systems
Our research seeks to understand these barriers and demonstrate practical strategies to improve vaccination uptake among eligible adolescents.
Step 1: Baseline Assessment
The project began with a baseline assessment conducted among adolescent girls and their parents or caregivers across four secondary schools in Abakaliki metropolis.
Students completed structured questionnaires assessing:
- Knowledge of HPV infection
- Awareness of the HPV vaccine
- Attitudes toward vaccination
- Uptake of the vaccine
Parents and caregivers were also engaged to understand their Knowledge of HPV avaccine, perceptions, concerns, and willingness to allow their daughters receive the vaccine.
Step 2: Health Education and Community Sensitization
Following the baseline survey, intensive sensitization sessions were conducted with both students and their parents.
These sessions focused on:
- Understanding HPV infection and how it spreads
- The relationship between HPV and cervical cancer
- The safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine
- Addressing myths and misconceptions about vaccination
The sessions were interactive, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions and clarify concerns. This engagement helped build trust and confidence in the vaccination process.
Step 3: Vaccination of Eligible Students
After the sensitization activities, vaccination was offered to students whose parents or caregivers provided informed consent.
The single-dose HPV vaccine, now recommended globally for adolescent girls, was administered to eligible students.
This school-based approach ensures that adolescents can easily access the vaccine within a familiar and supportive environment.
Improving Documentation: Redesigning the Vaccination Card
During implementation, the team identified an important gap: existing vaccination cards did not include HPV vaccination records.
To address this, Team Game Changer redesigned the vaccination cards to include HPV vaccine documentation.
This small but important innovation helps to:
- Increase visibility of the HPV vaccine
- Improve documentation and record keeping
- Reinforce the importance of HPV vaccination among parents and caregivers
Engaging Parents and Stakeholders
Recognizing that parental approval plays a critical role in adolescent vaccination, the project also includes in-depth interviews with selected parents and key stakeholders.
These interviews aim to explore:
- Parents’ perceptions about HPV vaccination
- Cultural and social influences on vaccine decision-making
- Barriers and facilitators to vaccine acceptance
Selected parents and community stakeholders were also trained as community advocates, empowering them to educate and encourage other parents to vaccinate their daughters. This peer advocacy approach helps strengthen community ownership and trust.
Evaluating the Impact
To determine the effectiveness of the intervention, the project was concluded with an endline survey among participating students and parents.
The endline assessment will help measure:
- Changes in knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer
- Attitudes toward HPV vaccination
- Uptake of the HPV vaccine following the intervention
By comparing findings from the baseline and endline surveys, the research team will be able to assess the impact of the behavioral and institutional strategies implemented during the project.
Community-Based Research in Action
The images captured during the project highlight key activities including:
- Students completing baseline questionnaires
- Health education sessions with students
- Administration of the HPV vaccine
- Documentation using redesigned vaccination cards
- Engagement with parents and stakeholders
These activities demonstrate the importance of school-based and community-engaged strategies in improving adolescent health outcomes.
Moving Forward
This project is currently being implemented in four secondary schools within Abakaliki metropolis, and it represents an important step toward increasing HPV vaccine coverage among adolescents in Ebonyi State.
The lessons learned from this research will provide valuable evidence for scaling up HPV vaccination programs in school settings across Nigeria and similar contexts.
Protecting adolescent girls today means preventing cervical cancer tomorrow.
Through collaboration, research, and community engagement, Team Game Changer is helping to build a healthier future for young girls in Ebonyi State and beyond.
