Innovative Bootcamp Model to Boost Cancer Prevention Vaccination in Nigeria

Purpose: This research aims to use participatory approaches designed by and for early and mid-career investigators to enhance vaccine uptake for cancer prevention in Nigeria. As of 2022, there were 19.6 million new cancer cases and 10.2 million cancer-related deaths, with these numbers projected to rise to 28.4 million new cases and 16.4 million deaths by 2040. Liver cancer ranks sixth in incidence and fourth in cancer-related mortality, while cervical cancer is the fourth most common and leading cause of cancer- related death in women. The burden of both cancers can be significantly reduced through vaccinations against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Human papillomavirus (HPV). However, in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), prevention, diagnosis, and treatment remain challenging due to healthcare inequities, highlighting the importance of research ethics and community engagement in effective cancer control. Methods: Guided by Participatory Action Research and PEN-3 cultural model, a two-week innovative bootcamp training was conducted in Nigeria to equip early and mid-career investigators with skills to address low vaccine uptake for preventable cancers. Participants were trained to develop and implement equitable and sustainable strategies to improve the uptake of HPV and HBV vaccines using community resources like stakeholders while upholding ethical principles to ensure trust and long-term effectiveness. Using Likert scale questions, pre- and post-tests were performed to assess participants’ skills in intervention development, community engagement, addressing barriers to policy implementation, and using mobile technology to overcome vaccine barriers. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 29. Related-samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to compare participants’ skills before and after the workshop. Results: Twenty participants from five health-related professions, mostly researchers (11), participated in the workshop. Participants were from different states in Nigeria, and 60% of them were female. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test indicated a statistically significant increase in skills score from pretest (Median = 21.00, IQR (6.00)) to post-test score (Median = 29.50, IQR (2.00)) W= 205.50, P< 0.01. Conclusion: Despite the challenges to overcoming barriers in vaccine uptake in LMICs, community engagement through capacity building remains crucial in tackling these challenges and implementing sustainable interventions against vaccine-preventable cancer Citation Format: Caven N. Ngoe, Olufunto A. Olusanya, Peter Kalulu, Temitope Ojo, Nkiruka Obodoechina, Emily Miller, Priscilla A. Kabutey, Joseph D. Tucker, Oliver Ezechi, Juliet Iwelunmor. A Participatory Bootcamp Model to Enhance Vaccine Uptake for Cancer Prevention in Nigeria: Strengthening Among Early and Mid-Career Investigators [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; 2025 Sep 16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 56.