Vaccination against Cervical Cancer: Profile of Accommodating Parents and Some Suggestions to Overcome Hesitancy against Vaccination
Tassang Andrew
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Buea, Cameroon and Buea Regional Hospital Annex, Cameroon and Atlantic Medical Foundation Hospital – Mutengene, Cameroon.
G. E. Halle Ekane
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Buea, Cameroon.
C. Neh Fru
Atlantic Medical Foundation Hospital – Mutengene, Cameroon and Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Buea, Cameroon.
Frederick Nchang Cho
Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Cameroon and Infectious Disease Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Tassang Thierry
Kumbo Sub Divisional Hospital, Kumbo, Cameroon.
T. Palle Ewane
Atlantic Medical Foundation Hospital – Mutengene, Cameroon.
P. Ngum Fru
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Buea, Cameroon.
Daniel Ndongo
Atlantic Medical Foundation Hospital – Mutengene, Cameroon.
W. Ndakason
Atlantic Medical Foundation Hospital – Mutengene, Cameroon.
G. Ncham
Atlantic Medical Foundation Hospital – Mutengene, Cameroon.
Tangui Gracious
Baptist Hospital Mutengene, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
6 million sexually active women are at risk of developing cervical cancer in Cameroon. About 2000 cases are reported annually with 55% of them being fatal. The fight against this disease is hampered by both poor material and human resources. Methods of prevention are divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary. Vaccination is one of the primary methods of prevention of cervical cancer. Despite the avoidable nature of this disease, there is a growing hesitancy in society to allow girls to be vaccinated.
The objective of this study is to find out the characteristics of parents who allow their daughter(s ) to be vaccinated, despite the negative growing opinion about vaccination.
Sensitization on the importance of prevention of cervical cancer by the public authorities, financial empowerment of women, and level of education seem crucial to increase the uptake of vaccination against the Human Papilloma Virus.
Keywords: Prevention, vaccination, cervical cancer, human papilloma virus, hesitancy.