Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer risk perception and vaccine acceptability among adolescent girls and young women in Durban, South Africa

Abstract

Most young women in SA do not have access to the national HPV vaccine programme, as only girls in grade 4 in some public schools qualify. Almost all participants indicated that if the vaccine was free and recommended by a healthcare professional, they would accept it. Availability of the HPV vaccine and timely treatment of HPV infections are key issues to address in efforts to decrease cervical cancer worldwide.