Effectiveness of Interventions for Improving HPV Vaccination Cover

Research Problem and Question: The development of prophylactic vaccines against the human papillomavirus (HPV) marks a major scientific and technological advance in the fight against cervical cancer. However, translating the efficacy of these results into effectiveness in terms of reducing the disease burden in the target population requires the vaccine to be delivered within comprehensive public health programs. HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening have not been adequately integrated. While studies have evaluated the effectiveness of different educational strategies aimed at increasing HPV vaccination acceptability and coverage, the evidence is still heterogeneous and limited. In this regard, a systematic review emphasizes that the shortcomings of the available research lie in three key aspects: a lack of coordination with the setting where the intervention is delivered, errors in selecting the most appropriate strategy, and inaccuracies in study design and conduct (risk of bias). In Colombia, there are no recent data from the same time period or by regional context that have evaluated the effectiveness of two training interventions aimed at increasing HPV vaccine coverage. General Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of two training interventions aimed at increasing HPV vaccine coverage in four regions of Colombia. Materials and methods Pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial. The study hypotheses are: H1: The use of educational interventions does not increase HPV vaccine coverage. H2: The use of educational interventions increases HPV vaccine coverage.

Sex

All

Minimum age

9 Years

Maximum age

17 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Public and private educational institutions recognized by the Ministry of National Education, located in municipalities with a reported HPV vaccination coverage rate of less than 25% (using the national vaccination coverage statistics for 2021 as a baseline).
* Each cluster (educational institution) will be made up of parents or guardians, educators, and children enrolled in the institution. Children must be between the ages of 9 and 17 years old and boys between 9 and 14 years old, in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
* Participants must sign informed consent, and the minor must provide informed assent if they are under 14 years old.

Exclusion Criteria:

Children with known hypersensitivity to the active ingredients or any of the excipients of the vaccine, with acute fever, in a state of immunosuppression (e.g., HIV or prolonged use of steroids) or with a coagulation disorder will not be able to be part of the population assigned to the conglomerate.