Enhancing HPV Vaccination Uptake Among Girls in Nigeria Through Participatory Implementation Science

Purpose: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a Mega-Designathon Bootcamp in enhancing HPV-related knowledge and research skills to improve HPV vaccination rates among girls in Nigeria. Evidence shows that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are available to prevent cancer in low- and middle-income countries. However, the uptake and continuation of these vaccines among end users remain low in Nigeria. Understanding various participatory implementation approaches can help identify locally sourced strategies and build knowledge and skills to promote sustained uptake. Methods: We utilized crowdsourced open calls to gather tailored strategies among youth for enhancing HPV vaccination uptake and sustainability. Submissions were initially screened for Artificial Intelligence use, and expert judges subsequently shortlisted the top ten teams from 365 submissions to advance to the designathon, where they refined their ideas with expert guidance. Five teams (n = 16) were rigorously selected, advancing to the mega bootcamp phase for further training. The PEN-3 cultural model informed our analysis, and we performed pre- and post-analysis of the bootcamp training survey responses. Results: The five teams involved 16 participants, mostly female (81%), with an average age of 22 years. Qualitative results indicated that participants were motivated to participate in the mega bootcamp by their desire to learn, network, and make a positive impact on their community’s health. Key training resources identified included access to the internet, mentorship, and honesty throughout the training. Following the bootcamp, median (IQR) knowledge scores improved from 33 (30.8–35.3) to 36 (34.0–40.0); (p = 0.043), while research skills scores increased from 55 (46.8–60.3) to 81 (73.5–93.5); (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The mega bootcamp helped participants learn more about HPV and cervical cancer while improving their implementation science research skills. The bootcamp demonstrated that structured and participatory approaches can promote engagement and learning. Empowering youth with the right resources and mentorship can drive sustainable HPV vaccination initiatives in Nigeria. This study highlights the importance of community-driven strategies in addressing public health challenges and promoting greater uptake and sustainability of evidence-based interventions like HPV vaccination. Citation Format: Peter Kalulu, Olufunto A. Olusanya, Nkiruka Obodoechina, Maria Afadapa, Abideen Salako, Joseph Ogbeh, Priscilla A. Kabutey, Caven N. Ngoe, Emily Miller, Temitope Ojo, Folahanmi T. Akinsolu, Ucheoma Nwaozuru, Olaywola Olaitan, Idris A. Oladosu, Collins O. Airhihenbuwa, Joseph D. Tucker, Juliet Iwelunmor. Participatory Implementation Science to Enhance Knowledge and Build Capacity for Increasing the Uptake and Sustainability of HPV Vaccination Among Girls in Nigeria [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 50.