Abstract:
Background: Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children
(MoHCDGEC) has introduced Human Papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination into its
immunization program. This program aimed at reducing the incidence and prevalence of
HPV associated with cervical cancer in Tanzania. As to conform to the global accepted
strategy for preventing cervical cancer and genital warts. However, the guideline for ethical
adherence was not in place to reach adolescent school girls to implement the HPV
Vaccination program.
Objective: The objective of this study was to explore ethical challenges surrounding
vaccination in Tanzania: The Case of Human PapillomaVirus in Ubungo Municipality
Methodology: An exploratory study design, which employed Qualitative methodology was
used in which fourteen (14) In-depth interviews and two (2) Focused group discussions
were used to address the study objectives. This study was conducted in Ubungo Municipal,
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Study subjects were vaccinated adolescent girls, Parents, Policy
Makers for vaccination program from department of Policy and Planning in the Ministry of
Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC), School
Teachers and Health Care Workers. Purposive sampling method was used to obtain study
subjects where the saturation was reached at 14th participant and second FGD by learning
no new information was generated and data collection stopped based on power of
information. Data obtained were analyzed by thematic analysis with the help of the
Computer- Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS). The study duration
scheduled for two consecutive months.
Findings
The study revealed that, Parents and schoolgirls were not fully informed about the program
of HPV Vaccination, that’s includes the benefits and related side effects. The challenges in
decision making in HPV vaccination investigated where informed consent among parents
of vaccinated girls, informed consent among the vaccinated adolescent schoolgirls, mass
vaccination in relation to person’s autonomy and insufficient information in HPV
vaccination were outlined Conclusion and recommendation
The findings from this study conclude that, during the HPV vaccination program as public
program for specified age group without considering their environments and counterpart
groups compromises the justice to the general population of concerned. In addition, the
study found that some ethical principles were not observed during HPV vaccination
program. For example in decision-making process where parents were poorly engaged to
decide for their children and insufficient information to schoolgirls and parents which lead
to mistrust of the program to the community. Therefore, the study suggest further study to
explore more ethical issues in regard to mass vaccination.
Key words: Human papilloma Virus, autonomy, justices, discrimination
