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The following is a summary of “Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in the Postpartum Period: A Systematic Review,” published in the December 2024 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology by Brenner et al.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is essential in preventing HPV-related cancers. Postpartum HPV vaccination offers a unique opportunity to reach vulnerable individuals and improve vaccine coverage.
Researchers conducted a prospective study to assess the acceptability and feasibility of routine HPV vaccination during the postpartum period and identify strategies to increase vaccination rates.
They systematically reviewed studies from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov (N=60) that focused on HPV vaccination in the postpartum period. Studies were included if they were reported on vaccine uptake or acceptability. After screening, 39 studies were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria.
The results showed that postpartum HPV vaccination programs can significantly increase vaccination rates and are both feasible and acceptable to individuals (9 studies). The findings suggest that incorporating HPV vaccination into postpartum care could lead to higher vaccination uptake.
They concluded that integrating HPV vaccination into routine postpartum care provided an opportunity to reach vulnerable individuals, reduce patient costs, and help prevent HPV-related cancers. The approach can effectively improve HPV vaccination rates and contribute to public health efforts.
