HPV Vaccination Coverage Rate in a Rural Area: An Observational, Retrospective, and Cohort Study

Identifier:  imarina:9280937

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9280937

Authors:  Colome-Ceballos, Lara; Clua-Espuny, Josep Lluis; Fernandez-Saez, Jose; Ceballos-Garcia, Concepcion; Andres-Cubells, Natalia; Pla-Farnos, Maria Jesus

Abstract:
In order to reduce the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Global Strategy Goal for 2030, advocating for reaching a vaccination coverage rate of >90% against human papillomavirus for girls by the age of 15 years. The main objectives of this study were (1) to determine the papillomavirus vaccination coverage among women 15-40 years old and (2) to identify the at-risk subgroups and possible barriers to achieving WHO's 2030 goal. Multicentre, observational, retrospective, and community-based cohort studies were conducted on women from a rural area in southern Catalonia until 31 December 2021. A total of 23,136 women were included, with a mean age of 26.6 (SD = 5.6) years. The average dose number was 1.7 (SD = 0.7). The results showed overall vaccination coverage of 17.4% among the target women. This coverage was unequal across regions (16.6-24.5%, p < 0.001), primary healthcare teams (15.5-24.3%, p < 0.001), and age groups (56.7% (15-19-year-olds) vs. 3.8% (35-40-year-olds), p < 0.001), related to accessibility to vaccination and economic-geographical indicators. Clinical practice guidelines on screening individuals at risk in terms of vaccination access and public vaccination protocols should be implemented in order to improve the vaccination coverage rate.