Communication Strategies for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination in Nigeria: A Narrative Literature Review
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Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is central to cervical cancer prevention, yet vaccine availability does not necessarily translate into uptake, particularly in contexts shaped by misinformation, sociocultural concerns, trust deficits and unequal access to health information. This study synthesises the literature on communication strategies associated with HPV vaccination in Nigeria and examines how these strategies contribute to awareness, vaccine confidence, acceptance and uptake. A narrative literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, African Journals Online and selected university databases and online journals, focusing primarily on publications from 2023 to 2025. Thematic synthesis identified six interrelated communication strategies: multi-channel and integrated communication; community mobilisation and stakeholder engagement; trusted-messenger communication; message framing, misinformation management and trust-building; audience-centred and culturally responsive communication; and digital and participatory communication. The findings indicate that information exposure alone is insufficient to produce vaccination behaviour. Effective communication is strengthened by credible messengers, culturally appropriate messages, community participation, strategic channel integration and continuous audience feedback. Drawing on McGuire’s Communication-Persuasion Theory, the study proposes the Trust-Centred Multi-Channel HPV Communication Model (TMC-HPV), which integrates these communication dimensions with sequential persuasion processes and a feedback mechanism. The model provides a context-responsive framework for strengthening HPV vaccination communication and sustaining vaccine confidence in Nigeria.
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