HEALTH EDUCATION INTERVENTION ON LIFESTYLE AND UPTAKE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINE AMONG FEMALE STAFF OF UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

Abstract

Cervical cancer is mainly caused by infection with the Human papillomavirus (HPV) which is predominantly a sexually
transmitted virus that affects the epithelial cells of the cervix and is preventable by vaccination, knowledge of the virus
and healthy lifestyle. Many women seem not informed about the HPV and may not be able to make informed choice
about the vaccine. Therefore, this study examined the impact of health education intervention on lifestyle and uptake
of HPV vaccine as prevention of cervical cancer among female staff in University of Lagos. A modified questionnaire
with a self-developed health education manual on HPV, cervical cancer and vaccine was used as instruments for the
study. The population of the study comprised 1,656 female staff of the University. The sample size consisted of 120
respondents who were randomly selected from the various departments of the University. Respondents were assigned
into two groups, control (T1) and experimental (T2). The experimental group was treated with the Health Education
Intervention manual. A pretest posttest experimental control group research design was adopted for the study. Two
hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data collected was analysed using a descriptive statistics of bar
charts, frequency counts, percentages and inferential statistics of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Benferronic post
hoc test was used to determine the direction of significance differences. There were significant differences between the
experimental and control group in the lifestyle and uptake of HPV vaccine of the female of the University of Lagos in
their attitude towards prevention of cervical cancer by vaccination. The health education intervention had significant
impact on the lifestyle and uptake of human papillomavirus vaccine as prevention of cervical cancer among female
staff in University of Lagos. It is recommended that health Education Intervention should be intensified at medical
facilities through the promotion of health using effective media of communication to motivate the lifestyle and the
uptake of human papillomavirus vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer among female staff in University of
Lagos.