File Type
Project Document
Publication Date
2026
Description
The HPV Vaccination Learning Project examined the factors that influence HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in selected Philippine communities. The research team adapted the BeSD survey and interview tools through two rounds of field testing that incorporated cognitive interviews. From August to October 2025, the team conducted 400 caregiver surveys and 120 in-depth interviews across 10 sites in Ilocos Norte, Abra, Santiago City in Isabela, and Navotas City. Interview participants included 30 parents, 30 adolescent girls, 30 teachers, and 30 barangay health workers.
Caregivers generally reported high awareness of the HPV vaccine and strong trust in health workers. Concerns about side effects, vaccine stockouts, student absences, and difficulty accompanying children to vaccination appointments affected uptake. Teachers helped communicate schedules, secure parental consent, and coordinate school-based vaccination. Barangay health workers linked families with schools and health facilities through reminders and community outreach, including efforts to reach out-of-school girls. The report recommends refinements to the BeSD tools and their use in identifying local barriers to vaccination.
Recommended Citation
Collado, Z., Yabut, H., Cleofas, J., Alibudbud, R., Tiongco, M., Ramos-Jimenez, P., Lantican, C., Geluz, M., Esseo, B., Salmasan, J., & Rex, S. (2026). HPV Vaccination Learning Project: Final Report. Retrieved from https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/sdrc_res_proj/21
Comments
This final report documents the adaptation and validation of survey and interview tools on the Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the Philippines. It presents findings from caregiver surveys and interviews with parents, adolescent girls, teachers, and barangay health workers. The report also offers recommendations for refining the tools and using them to inform school- and community-based HPV vaccination efforts
The HPV Vaccination Learning Project examined the systemic, behavioral, and social factors influencing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake in the Philippines to identify strategies for improving program implementation, increasing vaccination coverage, and supporting cervical cancer prevention. The project comprised two complementary components funded by the Gates Foundation and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The research covered selected high- and low-performing vaccination sites in Ilocos Norte, Abra, Santiago City in Isabela, and Navotas City.
The Gates Foundation-funded component, HAPPI Phase II Learning and Other Learning-related Activities in Select Sites in the Philippines, employed a qualitative, Theory of Change-guided approach to examine health system performance, community engagement, and coordination among national agencies, local governments, schools, and health service providers. The study identified persistent challenges involving vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, supply and logistical constraints, limited health personnel, inadequate monitoring systems, and inconsistent local implementation. It also documented promising practices, including coordinated school- and community-based vaccination, direct engagement with parents, local leadership, and community outreach. The findings informed a proposed policy framework emphasizing communication strategies, institutional coordination, capacity building, and sustained support for more equitable HPV vaccination delivery.
The CDC-funded component, Examining the Behavioral and Social Drivers of HPV Immunization, employed a mixed-methods approach using adapted Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) assessment tools. The study conducted surveys with 400 caregivers and in-depth interviews with parents, adolescent girls, teachers, and barangay health workers. Findings revealed generally favorable attitudes toward vaccination and strong trust in health workers, although concerns about side effects, inconsistent health-worker recommendations, scheduling difficulties, vaccine stockouts, and gaps in service delivery continued to affect uptake. Schools emerged as important vaccination sites and sources of information, while barangay health workers supported community outreach, particularly for out-of-school girls. The project also field-tested and refined the BeSD instruments to improve their clarity, cultural appropriateness, and potential application in Philippine immunization programs.
Together, the two components provided complementary evidence on the institutional and individual factors shaping HPV vaccination in the Philippines. The project emphasized stronger coordination among health agencies, schools, and local governments; improved communication and community engagement; more reliable vaccine delivery and monitoring; and targeted strategies for underserved and out-of-school adolescents. Its findings and proposed policy and assessment tools can support evidence-informed improvements in HPV immunization programs and contribute to national efforts toward cervical cancer prevention.