TITLE:
Barriers and Adaptable Approaches to Improving Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Uptake among Girls: Perceptions of Healthcare Professionals in West Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Kamala Gumete Bienvenu Nkissi, Calvin Bisong Ebai, Nguemaïm Ngoufo Flore
KEYWORDS:
HPV, HPV Vaccination, Vaccine Acceptability, Vaccine Availability, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.9,
September
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Parent and caregiver knowledge heavily influences HPV vaccine uptake, yet healthcare professionals (HCPs) often fail to provide adequate education, hindering coverage despite primary healthcare (PHC) workers’ proven historical role in achieving high immunization rates. Aim: This study analyzed healthcare professionals’ perceptions regarding HPV vaccination availability and acceptability in two health districts in Cameroon. Setting: The study was located within the Foumbot and Dschang Health Districts in the West Region of Cameroon. Materials and Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized. Structured questionnaires collected data from a non-probability sample of 100 healthcare workers between August 2025 and January 2026 across public and private healthcare facilities. Primary outcomes evaluated perceived vaccine availability and parental vaccine acceptability. Results: While awareness of cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine was 100% among healthcare workers, facility vaccine availability was perceived as low; 41% reported it was never available and only 35% reported it was always available. Most HCPs reported low vaccine acceptance among parents (70%) and deemed current awareness campaigns ineffective (67%). HCPs identified their primary role as addressing fears and misinformation (46.41%), while citing inadequate communication channels to reach adolescents and parents (28.36%) as a major challenge. Conclusion: While perceived awareness is universal among providers, subjective vaccine availability and parent acceptance remain major bottlenecks. Successfully increasing vaccination coverage requires urgently strengthening communication strategies, securing consistent vaccine supply, and elevating community-wide awareness to dismantle deep-seated vaccine hesitancy.