Abstract:
HPV vaccines are e cacious in preventing HPV related cancers. However, the vaccination
uptake in Ghana is very low. Studies that utilize theoretical frameworks to identify contributory
factors to HPV vaccination uptake in Ghana are understudied. We used multi-theory model (MTM)
constructs to predict initiation and completion of HPV vaccination series in Ghanaian adolescents.
Adolescents (n = 285) between the ages of 12 and 17 years old were recruited from four selected
schools in Ghana to participate in the cross-sectional study. Linear regressions were used to analyze
the data. Most participants were female (91.2%) and senior high school students (60.0%). Many of
the participants had neither heard about HPV (92.3%) nor HPV vaccinations (95.4%). Significant
predictors of adolescents’ likelihood of getting the first dose of HPV vaccination were perceived
beliefs and change in a physical environment (p < 0.001), with each variable accounting for 6.1%and
8.8% of the variance respectively. Significant predictors of adolescents’ likelihood of completing
HPV vaccination recommended series were perceived beliefs, practice for change, and emotional
transformation (p < 0.001), with each variable accounting for 7.8%, 8.1%, and 1.1% of the variance
respectively. Findings underscore important opportunities for developing educational interventions
for adolescents in Ghana to increase the HPV vaccination uptake.