Metrics details. In Uganda, vaccination against HPV started as a demonstration project among young girls in Nakasongola; and Ibanda districts. Studies have suggested that vaccination against HPV could result in risky sexual behavior and increase the risk of early sexual debut. This study was done to compare the sexual behavior of HPV vaccinated and non vaccinated adolescent girls in two neighboring districts in Uganda; and to assess whether HPV vaccination had any influence on sexual behavior of vaccinated adolescent girls.
This was an unmatched comparative study, which used both qualitative and quantitative study methods. It was carried out among primary school girls aged 12 to 15 years in the districts of Nakasongola vaccinated and Luwero non vaccinated. Quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire while qualitative data was obtained using focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The main outcome measure was the number of sexually active girls in each group.
Of the girls, 8 volunteered information that they were sexually active, 5 2. HPV vaccination was not significantly associated with being sexually active. There was no significant difference in sexual behavior between vaccinated and non vaccinated girls. Peer Review reports. Human Papilloma Virus HPV particularly types 16 and 18, which are sexually transmitted have been shown to be the cause of cervical cancer [ 1 ]. Following establishment of this association, two vaccines have been developed and licensed by the U.
Vaccination prior to sexual debut, which is about 9 to 13 years of age has been recommended by WHO as a primary prevention strategy that offers greatest protection against HPV infection [ 2 , 3 ]. Vaccination has been ongoing in developed countries. Although the burden of cervical cancer is high in sub Saharan Africa, the uptake of HPV vaccination is still low [ 4 , 5 ].
In , Program for Appropriate Technologies PATH , an International nonprofit organization that transforms global health through innovation, began demonstration programs in middle and low-resource countries to assess acceptance, feasibility, achievable coverage, and costs associated with HPV vaccination.
