Determinants for hesitancy in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake among school girls in Jimma Town, Ethiopia. A mixed approach: quantitative and qualitative

BACKGROUND: The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination helps the body fight off certain types of the virus. Despite being one of the top 10 health hazards in the world, vaccination hesitancy has received little attention in Ethiopia. In Jimma Town, Ethiopia, the current study aims to identify the variables that affect HPV vaccine resistance and evaluate HPV uptake resistance and related variables among female school students. METHODS: A mixed study of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis were considered. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to June 2023. Following a thorough random sampling process, 373 respondents were selected using stratified sampling techniques. The necessary information was gathered using an in-depth interview, a structured questionnaire administered using Kobotoolbox tools, and an interviewer who had undergone training. Models of multivariable and bivariate logistic regression were both used. RESULT: A total of 369 respondents participated in the study and the response rate was 98.9%. The hesitancy of the HPV vaccine in Jimma Town female school students was 39.02%. Female students who have a mobile phone, (OR = 0.46, 95% CI (1.16, 45.89), mothers educational status ([Formula: see text] Secondary) (OR = 0.53, 95% CI (1.11, 2.44), older sister vaccinated (OR = 0.19, 95% CI (0.004, 0.42), previously vaccinated two doses of HPV (OR=0.64, 95% CI (0.006, 0.137), Confidence (worried in safety and efficacy of vaccine) (OR = 3.42, 95% CI (0.30, 0.87), Not Belief in rumors (HPV vaccine ruins girls fertility) (OR = 0.21, 95% CI (0.43, 0.96), and Complacency (Distrust in health care information ) (OR = 0.24, 95% CI (0.37, 0.94), were found to be statistically significant with HPV Vaccine Hesitancy. CONCLUSION: Due to widespread misinformation in the community, both schoolgirls and parents had high levels of hesitancy for the HPV vaccine in this study compared to a similar study. As a result, the HPV vaccine program, with the help of the appropriate health care professionals, should work hard to maximize community awareness in order to significantly increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine.