A systematic review of interventions to promote human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Africa.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a systematic review to assess the scope and effectiveness of interventions to improve human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination in Africa from 2006 to 2021.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

Four databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO) were searched for articles published between 2006 and 2021. Articles were screened and included based on eligibility criteria using DistillerSR (Version 2.35). Data were extracted and reported using a narrative synthesis. A quality assessment was also conducted for each study using validated quality appraisal tools.

RESULTS

Out of 7603 articles identified by a systematic search, 18 articles met the inclusion criteria. Included studies comprised impact evaluation and cross-sectional studies published between 2012 and 2021 and conducted in eight African countries namely: Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mali, and Malawi. Study quality ranged from high to low quality. Interventions comprised fifteen educational and three multicomponent interventions. Out of thirteen impact evaluation studies (all educational interventions), twelve studies were effective in increasing HPV vaccine uptake and/or improving participants' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about the vaccine. Across five cross-sectional studies (two educational and three multicomponent interventions), HPV vaccine uptake rates ranged from 34% to 93.3%, with a consensus on safety and effectiveness in 67.9%-90.3% of participants post-intervention.

CONCLUSION

Educational and multicomponent interventions have been implemented to improve HPV vaccination in Africa. While educational interventions have proven effective at improving HPV vaccine uptake, a more diverse range of interventions with robust impact evaluation study designs are needed to strengthen the available evidence and improve vaccine uptake.