MIRERC 035/2025 FACTORS INFLUENCING HPV VACCINATION UPTAKE AMONG CAREGIVERS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN THE PASTORALIST COMMUNITY OF GARBATULLA, ISIOLO COUNTY, KENYA.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of infection with high-risk human papilloma virus among Kenyans
and globally is rising and posing a public health concern. This has begun to reflect on
the steady increases in cervical cancer cases in the country. Currently, cervical cancer
is the second most common cancer among women in Kenya, after breast cancer. Two
major strategies to control the rise of HPV infections and cervical cancer is
vaccination and the regular screening of young women. The World Health
Organization has recommended the vaccination of all girls between the ages of 9-14
years before their coitarche. In 2019, Kenya launched national vaccination drive
targeting girls 10 years old and which was integrated into the routine immunization
schedule. However, coverage remain low across the country particularly among the
hard-to-reach populations such as the nomadic pastoralist communities.
This study aims to investigate the factors influencing HPV vaccination uptake among
age-eligible girls in the pastoralist community of Garbatulla, Isiolo County. The study
will employ a cross-sectional mixed-methods design on sample size of 347 caregivers
with adolescent girls aged 15-18 years. Quantitative data will be collected using
structured questionnaires administered by the research team while qualitative data will
be collected with aid of Focus Group Discussion guides and Key Informant Interview
guides. Pretesting will be conducted on 10% of the sample size in Sericho Ward.
SPSS version 27 will be utilized to facilitate the analysis. Descriptive statistics will be
presented using frequencies and percentages for categorical data and means and
medians for continuous data. chi-square test will be used to test associations between
categorical variables while and binary logistics regression analysis will be utilized to
investigate the predictor variables for vaccinate uptakes among the participant
adolescents while thematic content analysis will be used for qualitative data. Findings
will be presented using tables and charts. Ethical approval will be sought from Meru
University Ethical Review Committee.
Research approval will be sought from the Meru University Graduate School, while a
research permit will be sought from the National Commission for Science Technology
and Innovation (NACOSTI). Potential respondents will be enrolled to participate
based on their informed consent.