PulseExploreJournal ClubDebatesTrendingResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeExploreJournal ClubTrending
Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
June 5, 2026Vaccines0 citationsOpen Access

HPV Vaccination Uptake and Acceptability of HPV/HIV Integrated Services Models for Adolescent Girls in Mozambique and Zimbabwe: The AIM-HPV Implementation Research Study

View Full Paper
MGMichelle M. GillACAssucênio ChissaqueEVEdna Viegas

Key Points

  • This research aims to assess the uptake and acceptability of HPV vaccination integrated within HIV prevention services for adolescent girls in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
  • Abstracted HPV vaccination data from 54 health facilities and communities between February and December 2025.
  • Conducted quantitative surveys with caregivers regarding vaccine perceptions and experiences in 16 health facilities.
  • Analyzed data from 6377 girls aged 9-14 years offered the HPV vaccine.
  • 3.0% of girls received the vaccine pre-integration, while 97.0% were vaccinated post-integration in Mozambique.
  • Among GLHIV, 95.8% in Zimbabwe and 69.6% in Mozambique received the first HPV vaccine.
  • Full vaccination with two doses occurred in 49.1% of eligible girls in Mozambique and 73.9% in Zimbabwe.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Girls living with HIV (GLHIV) or vulnerable to HIV have a higher risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer as they age. We determined acceptability and vaccination uptake after integrating HPV vaccination into HIV prevention and treatment services for girls in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Methods: Pre-integration and integration HPV vaccination information were abstracted from routine records of girls aged 9–14 years offered HPV vaccine through HIV services in 54 health facilities (HFs) and surrounding communities between February and December 2025. Caregivers participated in quantitative surveys about vaccine perceptions and integration model experiences in a subset of 16 HFs. Results: In total, 6377 records of girls (median age: 11 years) were abstracted. Among the vaccine recipients, 63 (3.0%) girls received vaccine pre-integration and 2019 (97.0%) post-integration in Mozambique and 743 (17.3%) pre-integration and 3541 (82.7%) post-integration in Zimbabwe. Among GLHIV, 95.8% and 69.6% received a first HPV vaccine in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, respectively. Full vaccination with two doses occurred in 49.1% of eligible girls in Mozambique and 73.9% in Zimbabwe. Overall, 461 (67.8%) caregivers had heard of the HPV vaccine and 85.9% of cervical cancer, 99.6% were satisfied with vaccination in integration settings, and 78.6% preferred facility-based vaccination models. Conclusions: We demonstrated that HPV/HIV service integration was an effective strategy to increase HPV vaccine uptake among young girls at increased risk of HPV and cervical cancer. We found high vaccine and model acceptability and awareness of cervical cancer among caregivers. Optimization of this approach requires better integrated tools and model adaptations to fit the needs of girls and health systems.

Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Gill et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2268f9763171746d5478fbhttps://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14060503
Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper