International Research Journal of Oncology

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination remains one of the most effective strategies for preventing cervical cancer. However, vaccine uptake among women in many low- and middle-income countries remains suboptimal due to social, economic, and health system challenges.

Aim: This study assessed HPV vaccination uptake and perceived barriers among women attending Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, Nigeria.

Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 366 women aged 15 to 49 years attending ABSUTH, Aba. Participants were selected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire developed in accordance with the World Health Organisation behavioural and social drivers’ framework. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, HPV vaccination history, perceived barriers, social influences, accessibility, and strategies for improving vaccine uptake were collected and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0. Descriptive statistics, mean scores, percentages, and the chi-square test were used for data analysis, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Only 25.68% of respondents had previously received the HPV vaccine, whereas 74.32% had never been vaccinated. Two vaccine doses were the most frequently reported schedule (44.68%). The most important barriers to vaccination were high cost (74.86%; mean = 3.97), fear of side effects (67.49%; mean = 3.72), limited vaccine availability (63.66%; mean = 3.62), inadequate information (61.20%; mean = 3.54), and insufficient healthcare worker discussion (60.93%; mean = 3.50). Government subsidy (86.61%), free vaccination (84.43%), awareness campaigns (83.33%), and improved vaccine availability (82.79%) were the strongest facilitators of vaccine uptake. Significant associations were observed between vaccination uptake and healthcare worker discussion (χ² = 3.945, p = 0.047), healthcare worker recommendation (χ² = 21.158, p < 0.001), and peer influence (χ² = 47.607, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: HPV vaccination uptake among women attending ABSUTH was low. Financial constraints, limited access, inadequate information, and poor provider communication were major barriers. Expanding public awareness, subsidising vaccination, and strengthening healthcare worker engagement may substantially improve HPV vaccine uptake.