HPV Vaccination Coverage in Brazil's State of Paraná: Spatial Distribution and Advances in Public Health.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To analyze the spatial distribution of HPV vaccination coverage in relation to sociodemographic variables in a state of Southern Brazil. Methods: This was an ecological, retrospective study with secondary data from the Department of Information Technology of the Unified Health System/Ministry of Health from 2015 to 2022. The cohort method was used to calculate vaccination coverage. Geographically weighted regression was used for the independent variables. Results: There was a 22.04% reduction in vaccination between the first and second doses. Coverage with the first dose of the vaccine reached 95.17% for the female population, 64.67% for the male population, and 79.57% for both sexes. In 50.62% of cities, coverage exceeded 90% for both sexes. In 80.45% of cities, the recommended coverage for females was achieved. The variable municipal performance was positively significant for the increase in vaccination coverage in 45.45% of the regions for girls, 18.18% for boys, and 36.36% for both sexes. The family health strategy variable was significant in 9.09% of the regions for girls and both sexes. The education variable showed an inverse significance for girls in 40.90%, for boys in 18.18%, and for both sexes in 36.36% of the regions. Conclusions: HPV vaccination declined between the first and second doses, with high first-dose coverage among females and moderate coverage among males. Municipal performance notably impacted coverage, particularly for girls. The family health strategy was relevant in specific regions, while educational factors had a variable effect. Addressing these variables may enhance vaccination coverage and minimize the gap between doses.