Protecting girls preventing Cervical cancer

The Kupewa project, a collaboration between Partners in Hope, NYU, UCLA, and the Ministry of Health, aims to increase HPV vaccination coverage among adolescent girls and young women living with HIV in Malawi. In a country with the world's second-highest cervical cancer burden, the study identifies optimal strategies to promote provider recommendation of HPV vaccination—a key driver of vaccine uptake. The project tests different combinations of implementation strategies including provider training, coaching, and reminder systems to determine the most effective and sustainable approach to increasing vaccination rates.

Additional Elements to Include in Study Overviews/Welcome Content

Visual Elements

• Project logo or icon:
• Photos from activities: yes, we definitely have photos for inception meeting or launch of the study
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Quick Facts Section

• Number of participating facilities/districts: Study is being implemented across the 9 PIH districts and in 32 facilities
• Target enrollment numbers: 6400+ adolescent girls and young women living with HIV enrolled
• Study duration: Study is funded by NIH and study period is Sept 2024-Aug 2029
• Primary outcomes being measured: What % of ART visits include HPV vaccination recommendation
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Why This Matters

Brief statement on the public health significance

Malawi has the second-highest cervical cancer burden globally (67.9 cases per 100,000 women), yet only 13% of eligible girls received HPV vaccine in 2022. Girls and young women living with HIV—who face elevated cervical cancer risk—have even lower vaccination rates (13% initiated, <6% fully vaccinated). Provider recommendation increases HPV vaccine uptake tenfold, making this study's focus on implementation strategies to boost provider recommendation critical for reducing cervical cancer mortality in a high-burden setting.

Connection to national health priorities

This study directly supports Malawi's national HPV vaccination program (launched 2019) and addresses the intersection of two national health priorities: reducing cervical cancer burden and improving HIV care outcomes. With 10.5% of Malawian women living with HIV and facing elevated cervical cancer risk, strengthening provider capacity to recommend HPV vaccination within existing ART services aligns with national goals for integrated, preventive care.

Potential impact on policy or practice

The study will identify the most cost-effective, feasible implementation strategies for increasing HPV vaccine uptake in resource-limited settings. Findings will provide evidence-based guidance for scaling up provider education and support systems nationally and across similar LMICs, directly informing policy on how to achieve higher HPV vaccination coverage and ultimately reduce cervical cancer deaths among high-risk populations.