Determinants of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake among Female Medical Students at Rivers State University, Nigeria

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer, a major public health burden in Nigeria. Despite the availability of effective prophylactic vaccines, uptake remains critically low, even among high-risk and informed groups such as medical students. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and identify the key determinants of HPV vaccine uptake among female medical students at Rivers State University. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 214 female students from the College of Medical Sciences, selected via multistage random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Variables included socio-demographics, sexual history, knowledge of HPV and the vaccine, and vaccination status. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results: The mean age of respondents was 20.8 ± 2.8 years. Only 21.0% (n=45) had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, and 11.2% (n=24) were fully vaccinated. Uptake was significantly higher among students aged 21–25 years (34.4% vs. 9.8%, p