Wednesday, 3rd of August 2016 |
Health Policy Plan. 2016 Jul;31(6):691-9. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czv119. Epub 2016 Jan 14.
Feasibility and acceptability of delivering adolescent health interventions alongside HPV vaccination inTanzania.
Watson-Jones D1, Lees S2, Mwanga J3, Neke N3, Changalucha J3, Broutet N4, Maduhu I5, Kapiga S6, Chandra-Mouli V4, Bloem P4, Ross DA7.
Abstract below; full text is at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4916316/
BACKGROUND:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination offers an opportunity to strengthen provision of adolescent health interventions(AHI). We explored the feasibility of integrating other AHI with HPV vaccination in Tanzania.
METHODS:
A desk review of 39 policy documents was preceded by a stakeholder meeting with 38 policy makers and partners. Eighteen key informant interviews (KIIs) with health and education policy makers and district officials were conducted to further explore perceptions of current programs, priorities and AHI that might be suitable for integration with HPV vaccination.
RESULTS:
Fourteen school health interventions (SHI) or AHI are currently being implemented by the Government of Tanzania. Most are delivered as vertical programmes. Coverage of current programs is not universal, and is limited by financial, human resource and logistic constraints. Limited community engagement, rumours, and lack of strategic advocacy has affected uptake of some interventions, e.g. tetanus toxoid (TT) immunization. Stakeholder and KI perceptions and opinions were limited by a lack of experience with integrated delivery and AHI that were outside an individual´s area of expertise and experience. Deworming and educational sessions including reproductive healtheducation were the most frequently mentioned interventions that respondents considered suitable for integrated delivery with HPV vaccine.
CONCLUSIONS:
Given programme constraints, limited experience with integrated delivery and concern about real or perceived side-effects being attributed to the vaccine, it will be very important to pilot-test integration of AHI/SHI with HPV vaccination. Selected interventions will need to be simple and quick to deliver since health workers are likely to face significant logistic and time constraints during vaccination visits.
© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
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