Investigator
York University
Challenges and Opportunities for Cervical Cancer Prevention Through HPV Vaccination in Ghana: A Public Health Policy Analysis
Introduction Cervical cancer constitutes a critical public health challenge in Ghana, with high morbidity and mortality despite the global availability of effective prophylactic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. This study examines the policy discourse surrounding the implementation of a nationwide HPV vaccination program in Ghana, analyzes stakeholders’ perspectives on programmatic promotion, and assesses the extent of institutional prioritization. Methods Eight key informant interviews were thematically analyzed using NVivo; and a cross-sectional online survey of 215 participants was descriptively analyzed using SPSS. Results Thematic analysis of interviews revealed core policy challenges: weak prioritization, inadequate resource allocation, and policy framings that lacked discourse on the right to health. Survey data demonstrated marked improvement in HPV awareness (76.6%) and substantial interest in vaccination (64.2%), suggesting a shifting public health landscape influenced by media engagement and growing health literacy. Conclusion Findings underscore insufficient prioritization stalled the institutionalization of a national cervical cancer prevention strategy creating a critical implementation gap. However, the relatively late average age of sexual debut offers a strategic window for effective HPV vaccine delivery. Importantly, the convergence of increased public awareness, heightened receptivity to vaccination, and the availability of external funding mechanisms, such as support from Gavi, presents a timely and actionable opportunity for policy advancement. This study highlights the imperative for renewed governmental commitment to cervical cancer prevention, emphasizing the imperative to operationalize HPV vaccination as a core component of Ghana’s public health infrastructure.
Accelerating HPV vaccination in Africa for health equity
Abstract Cervical cancer is a preventable disease that continues to burden socioeconomically underserved regions, especially in Africa. Vaccination of adolescents who have never had sex with prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines proves effective in preventing the disease. However, vaccine accessibility and availability are two persistent challenges in low-resource settings. For this commentary, a trend analysis is conducted for national HPV vaccination and coverage rates in Africa, a region with high burden of the disease. This is in consideration of the World Health Organization (WHO) strategy to vaccinate 90% of adolescent girls by the age of 15, as part of strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. The analysis estimated that the rate of incorporating HPV vaccination in national immunization programs in Africa occurs slowly, at a mean wait time of 12 years with estimated coverage rate of 52%. A policy change that harnesses strategic approaches, such as a regionalized vaccination program, is recommended to hasten HPV vaccination for the rest of African countries without a national program.
