Uptake of the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine and Associated Factors Among Girls Aged 9-14 Years in Buikwe District: a Cross Sectional Study.

Abstract Background: Cervical cancer is one of the leading public health global concerns. Our study aimed at determining the level of uptake of the HPV vaccine and associated factors among Ugandan girls 9-14 years, to inform policy accordingly.Methodology: A cross-sectional study using mixed methods was carried out. Quantitative data were entered using Epidata and exported to Stata 14 for cleaning and analysis. Atlas.ti 6 software was used in thematic qualitative data analysis.Results: Only 30% of the girls whose mothers/caretakers were civil servants received the HPV vaccine P = 0.049, AOR=1.78 (1.00-3.18), CI=95%). Girls whose caretakers accessed health information were 2.68 times more likely to uptake the HPV vaccine (P = 0.004, AOR = 2.68(1.36-5.26), CI = 95%). To the extreme, girls whose mothers/caretakers had never heard about HPV vaccines and thought getting vaccinated is not important were less likely to uptake the HPV vaccine (P = 0.030, AOD = 0.31 (0.10-0.89), CI=95%) and (P = 000, AOD = 0.12 (0.05-0.28), CI=95%) respectively. Girls whose mothers/caretakers accessed health information through the health workers (P = 0.004, AOR = 2.68(1.36-5.26), CI = 95%) were 2.68 times more likely to uptake the HPV vaccine than any other girls in reference category.Conclusion: The level of HPV vaccine uptake among girls 9-14 years remains significantly low at 30% in Buikwe district. Vaccine uptake was negatively affected by level of formal education and health education awareness among the mothers/caretakers. There should be strategies to improve vaccine awareness and update among the key stakeholders. Nevertheless, health education enhances vaccine update and should be improved for better outcomes.