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Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading etiological agent in cervical cancer, which remains a major health problem of the population in Nigeria. Although an effective vaccine is available, its use remains insufficient, largely due to limited knowledge and caregiver reluctance. The purpose of the study is to assess the knowledge and acceptance of the HPV vaccine among the caregivers in the Ardo Kola Local Government Area in Taraba State, Nigeria. The design used was a descriptive, cross-sectional design, which considered a sample of 314 caregivers, who were chosen by simple random sampling. A structured questionnaire was used in data collection and covered demographics, knowledge level, and acceptance of vaccines. The SPSS software was used to perform statistical analysis and report the findings in terms of frequencies and percentages. Younger caregivers and individuals in the age range of 18–29 years had higher knowledge levels, and individuals with tertiary education had higher levels of knowledge. On the other hand, less educated caregivers who were older did not show such awareness. Most caregivers (56.4%) considered the vaccine very important, with marginally higher acceptance rates in females than in males. There was the least awareness among caregivers who had no formal education, pointing to the need for specific educational interventions. On the whole, the positive correlations were observed between young age and a high level of education, with better knowledge and acceptance of HPV vaccination. Community-based awareness campaigns, educating caregivers, and policy-based approaches that will help overcome misconceptions and increase access to the HPV vaccine should be prioritized by the community in terms of public health.

Keywords

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Acceptance Knowledge

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Babylon, P., Abubakar , S., Onyekwena Rhoda, P., Badawaire, R., Tukur, B., & Ezinne, O. (2026). Assessment of Knowledge and Acceptance of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine among Caregivers in Ardo Kola LGA, Taraba State, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Toxicological Research, 3(3), 261–267. https://doi.org/10.71637/jphtr.vol3no3.60
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References

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