Integrated HPV Vaccination and Adolescent Health in Tanzania

Summary

Background: Cervical cancer is a serious global public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is the leading cause of cancer in women, with around 70,722 new cases each year. Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) prevents cervical cancer and is usually given to children around 9 to 15 years of age. HPV vaccination has been incorporated into many countries' Expanded Programs on Immunization, but often faces optimization and uptake challenges. SHARP is an implementation research initiative in Tanzania, Nigeria, and Côte d'Ivoire that is looking at the potential of combining HPV vaccination with with adolescent primary care/preventive health services - how this might work and its effect on the uptake of the HPV vaccine and other services.

Objective: To describe the feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness and sustainability of a locally-designed integrated adolescent health service package, including HPV vaccination in Tanzania. Specifically, this study aims to adapt an existing school based primary health care approaches, making service delivery not only more convenient but also more effective in addressing the specific needs of adolescents- focusing on out of school adolescents - in communities, and health facilities.

Methods: This is a quasi-experimental research study using a post intervention comparison approach to assess differences between an intervention group and a comparison group over time. It will use mixed methods drawing on quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, service time motion assessment, and administrative data. The study will be conducted in two regions, each with an intervention and comparison district. The adapted adolescent integrated health intervention will be implemented in the intervention districts with routine service provision in comparison areas. Monthly administrative service coverage data and endline surveys will be conducted in up to 2880 households with 1400 parents/caregivers and 1600 adolescents will assess effectiveness by looking at changes in service uptake and coverage, as well in knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards HPV vaccination and integrated services. At endline, up to 68 in-depth interviews will be conducted with program managers, health officials, service providers, school authorities, community influencers and leaders, and adolescents and parents/caregivers will assess feasibility, acceptability and sustainability.

Conditions

• Integrated Care
• Adolescent
• HPV

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

SHARP Tanzania

Building on existing adolescent health services, including HPV+, this intervention adds desired services for adolescent health education, screening, counseling, and referrals. In addition, this intervention has strategic community engagement to identify out of school girls with limited access to existing integrated health services available in schools, community sensitization activities, and training for healthcare workers.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jhpiego

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Pooja Sripad, PhD, MPH · Jhpiego

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

9 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-05-22

Primary Completion

2025-11-30

Completion

2025-12-31

Countries

• Tanzania

Study Locations