The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was introduced in Kyrgyzstan in 2022 with approximately 70% first dose coverage of target-aged girls in the first year. The Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic (MOH) followed a behavioral insights process with WHO technical assistance to undertake country-specific insights research before introduction and develop and deliver an HPV vaccine introduction communication and intervention plan (CIP) with tailored interventions. A qualitative participatory research study was conducted with administrators to identify challenges and facilitators to administrate development and implementation of the CIP. Administrators involved in delivering the CIP participated in two, half-day workshops aimed at identifying successes and challenges faced, and issues and dynamics. These issues were explored further in-depth via interviews with administrators. Two researchers collated and analyzed workshop outputs and interview notes to delineate findings. Research was conducted in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan with public health administrators involved in development and delivery of the CIP. Research participants were purposively sampled to get key insights into challenges and facilitators to the process. In total, 14 national and regional administrators participated in the study. 12 were purposively sampled to participate in the workshops, and further interviews were conducted with seven workshop participants. Based on workshop outputs, 2 regional administrators were approached and recruited to participate in interviews. Administrators faced time and funding limitations to develop, plan, and deliver the CIP. The COVID-19 pandemic context affected public attitudes to vaccination, adding additional strain on the health system. Minor issues in translating evidence into planning and communicating evidence to stakeholders were also noted. These challenges, were met through political and individual commitment to delivering the intervention, cross-sectoral collaboration to pool resources, country-specific evidence on HPV vaccine behaviors, and WHO technical support. Context-specific evidence supports planning HPV vaccine introduction communication and interventions, but attention must be given to ensuring it is provided in formats appropriate for easy use and incorporation by policy makers. Resource limitations are a significant challenge to planning and delivering interventions, and can be addressed through ensuring resources are available for implementing insights-based policy, and through strategic, cross-sector collaboration. Research should focus on factors encouraging such collaboration.
Warsi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.