Table 4.
HPV vaccine perceptions on decision-making, communication channels, and rumors among the health workers, school health coordinators, village health workers, and community leaders surveyed for the HPV vaccination program feasibility and acceptability surveys, Zimbabwe, January–February 2020.
| Health workers (N = 56) |
School health coordinators (N = 55) |
Village health workers (N = 55) |
Community leaders (N = 55) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| n | (%) | n | (%) | n | (%) | n | (%) | |
| Primary decision-maker for girls’ receipt of HPV vaccine according to respondent | ||||||||
| Parent(s) | 50 | (89) | 33 | (60) | 53 | (96) | 53 | (96) |
| Health worker | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 1 | (2) | 1 | (2) |
| Girl | 6 | (11) | 20 | (36) | 1 | (2) | 0 | (0) |
| Teacher/school health coordinator | 0 | (0) | 1 | (2) | 0 | (0) | 1 | (2) |
| Other | 0 | (0) | 1 | (2) | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) |
| Communication channels identified to be most effective in reaching caregivers and girls about the HPV vaccination | ||||||||
| Health Worker recommendation | 14 | (25) | 8 | (15) | 6 | (11) | 3 | (6) |
| Village Health Workers | 10 | (18) | 3 | (5) | 18 | (33) | 8 | (16) |
| Schools/Teachers/School Health Coordinator | 10 | (18) | 14 | (25) | 5 | (9) | 13 | (25) |
| Flyers/pamphlets/leaflets | 6 | (11) | 3 | (5) | 2 | (4) | 3 | (6) |
| Community Leaders | 5 | (9) | 9 | (16) | 7 | (13) | 16 | (31) |
| Town criers/Megaphones | 5 | (9) | 4 | (7) | 6 | (11) | 1 | (2) |
| Other | 3 | (5) | 6 | (11) | 3 | (5) | 4 | (7) |
| Radio | 1 | (2) | 5 | (9) | 2 | (4) | 3 | (6) |
| Posters/Banners | 1 | (2) | 2 | (4) | 4 | (7) | 1 | (2) |
| Churches/Religious Leaders | 1 | (2) | 0 | (0) | 2 | (4) | 3 | (6) |
| TV | 0 | (0) | 1 | (2) | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) |
| Felt prepared to answer questions about HPV/recommending the HPV vaccine | 54 | (96) | 53 | (96) | 46 | (84) | 46 | (84) |
| Heard rumors on the HPV vaccine | 20 | (36) | 26 | (47) | 31 | (56) | 16 | (29) |
| Type of rumors heard | ||||||||
| HPV vaccine will affect a girl’s fertility | 11 | (55) | 19 | (73) | 23 | (74) | 9 | (56) |
| HPV vaccine is not safe | 7 | (35) | 12 | (46) | 11 | (35) | 9 | (56) |
| HPV vaccine will cause cervical cancer | 5 | (25) | 1 | (4) | 1 | (3) | 0 | (0) |
| HPV vaccine is experimental | 5 | (25) | 12 | (46) | 16 | (52) | 7 | (44) |
| HPV vaccine will promote early sexual onset | 4 | (20) | 2 | (8) | 4 | (13) | 1 | (6) |
| HPV vaccine will cause severe side effects | 3 | (15) | 12 | (46) | 11 | (35) | 8 | (50) |
| Other | 2 | (10) | 2 | (8) | 4 | (13) | 0 | (0) |
| HPV vaccine costs money | 1 | (5) | 0 | (0) | 1 | (3) | 0 | (0) |