INFLUENCE OF AUDIENCE PERCEPTION OF THE NPHCDA’S RADIO CAMPAIGNS ON CERVICAL CANCER (HPV) VACCINE INTAKE

Abstract

Nigeria has a population of 60.9 million women ages 15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Current estimates indicate that every year 12, 075 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer while 7, 968 die from the disease. Cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women in Nigeria and the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. To curb the disease, the Federal Government embarked on radio HPV vaccination campaigns through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). This paper, therefore, sought to find out Awka South female residents’ level of awareness of the campaigns, their perception of the campaigns, the extent their perception of the campaigns determine their decision to take the HPV vaccine and the extent they have taken the vaccine. To achieve these objectives, the researcher adopted the descriptive survey design and determined the sample size of this study (384) using Meyer’s (1973) sample size determination formula. The samples were selected using the multi-stage sampling procedure. To collect data, the researcher used a close-ended and pre-tested questionnaire and used frequency tables and simple percentages to analyze the data. From this study, the researcher found, among others, that Awka South female residents are highly aware of the campaigns. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among others, that the Federal Government should continue the radio campaigns until massive HPV vaccine intake is achieved in Nigeria.