Ethiopia's Readiness for the Introduction of HPV Vaccine

There is a new tool available in the global fight against cervical cancer, a disease with a devastating effect on women’s lives worldwide. The vast majority of cases occur in developing countries, mainly because of lack of screening. Vaccines have recently been developed to prevent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Jimma University in close collaboration with PATH conducted studies in Jimma Zone and Addis Ababa to generate evidence to help policy makers and planners in Ethiopia make informed decisions regarding HPV vaccine introduction. Focus group discussions with girls, parents and community leaders and in-depth interviews with policy makers and health workers were performed.   In addition, relevant reports and policy documents were reviewed. This study explored the health systems and policy context that will affect HPV vaccine introduction, beliefs, values, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors related to cancer of the cervix, HPV, and vaccination.

The current study demonstrated that cervical cancer is a major public health problem of women in Ethiopia for which there are currently inadequate intervention programs, but which can be effectively prevented by HPV vaccine. Parents and adolescent girls (vaccine recipients) are supportive of the introduction of the vaccine and are willing to receive it when available.  There is a supportive policy environment for the introduction of the vaccine which can be considered as an opportunity to benefit from the new tool and circumvent cervical cancer. Schools were identified as a vaccination venue, given that there is high primary school attendance rates by girls, which could be complemented by mop up via the Health Extension Workers for the out of school girls.

Findings from this study provide a valuable contribution to the decision-making process as the government considers how best to implement its reproductive health policy goal of reducing cervical cancer.