Awareness, Knowledge and Acceptability of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among WomenUtilizing The Outpatient Departments ofSelected Healthcare FacilitiesIn Ibadan

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is vital for preventing cervical cancer, ‎yet awareness and acceptability remain low among women in many regions. ‎ Methods: This study assessed the awareness, knowledge, and acceptability of HPV vaccination ‎among 355 women attending outpatient departments (OPD) in selected healthcare institutions in ‎Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using ‎descriptive and inferential statistics. ‎ Results: Only 166(46.8%) of participants had heard of HPV vaccination, and 119(33.5%) were ‎aware that it prevents cervical cancer. Overall, 220(62%) had poor awareness, while 235(66.2%) ‎demonstrated poor knowledge of HPV vaccination. Acceptability was also low, with less than ‎half of the respondents, 160(45.1%), showing a high level of acceptance of the HPV vaccine. ‎Inferential analysis revealed that educational level, occupation, number of female children, and ‎frequency of visits to healthcare facilities were significantly associated with HPV vaccine ‎acceptability (p<0.05). ‎ Discussion: The findings highlight a substantial gap in awareness, knowledge, and acceptability ‎of HPV vaccination among women in Ibadan. This underscores the need for targeted public ‎health interventions, including educational programs and community-based awareness ‎campaigns, to improve the acceptability of HPV vaccination. Increased involvement of ‎healthcare providers, alongside efforts to address cultural and logistical barriers, may enhance ‎women’s awareness, knowledge, and uptake of the HPV vaccination in Ibadan‎.