Arcadia University has received a $17,744 subaward from Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, to collaborate on a research project studying parents’ desire to have their children vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Kano State, Nigeria. The one-year grant was awarded to Adelphi University by Merck Sharp & Dohme from October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023. 

The project’s official title is “Assessment of Parents’ Intent to Vaccinate Adolescents Against HPV in Kano State, Nigeria: A Mixed-Methods Study.” Comfort Olorunsaiye, Ph.D, MPH, assistant professor of Public Health at Arcadia is responsible for the subaward and will lead the qualitative aim of the project. Dr. Olorunsaiye will work in collaboration with principal investigator, Korede Yusuf, PhD, MPH, who is an assistant professor in the Public Health Program at Adelphi University. 

Dr. Olorunsaiye will develop interview guides for focus group discussions with community members and leaders, as well as in-depth interviews with health care providers and primary health care system leaders. She will also lead the analysis of the qualitative data and contribute to the preparation of the study report and manuscripts.  

The mixed methods project aims to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data collection was completed in December 2022 by PI, Dr. Yusuf. The quantitative findings are expected to inform the qualitative data collection. The combined findings will provide the Nigeria Primary Health Care Development Agency and other relevant policymakers with timely information on potential barriers and facilitators of the HPV vaccine acceptance, which is expected to be introduced in routine immunization  in the country. The findings may also provide preliminary data for future grant applications by the research team.