Liječnički vjesnik, Vol. 146 No. 9-10, 2024.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.26800/LV-146-9-10-5
Cervical cancer prevention and human papillomavirus vaccination campaigns in Croatia
Ivana Bočina
Tatjana Nemeth Blažić
Dean Girotto
Lana Bležević
Iskra Alexandra Nola
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that can be affected by measures of primary (education and informing about responsible sexual behavior and vaccination against human papillomavirus – the main cause of this cancer) and secondary prevention (a screening test and the precancerous lesions treatment). To raise awareness and educate vulnerable groups (women, youth) on the possibilities of cervical cancer prevention, numerous public health promotional activities are carried out worldwide, including Croatia, for the risk of cancer to be timely reduced. Health promotion activities need to be implemented not only via traditional methods of health promotion (leaflets, manuals, public lectures, and meetings), but following new trends as well (video materials, websites, online courses, mobile applications, inclusion of influencers). This paper presents a part of the health promotion campaigns and activities carried out in Croatia during the period 2007–2023, showing an example of good
practice. Presented campaigns included inter-sectoral collaboration (health sector and civil society), good mutual coordination, multidisciplinary and integrated approach, and rational use of all resources. This approach resulted in efficient, recognizable, and quality campaigns. In addition to public health campaigns, as to increase the number of people vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, two vaccination points for youth up to 25 years of age were opened in Zagreb, with available free vaccination and no appointment needed, as well as counselling on sexual health, with the aim of increasing vaccination coverage. Also, the key challenges for further improvement of educational and promotional activities of health promotion campaigns are emphasized: the possibility and sustainability of continuous implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and future improvement of the quality of
implementation. Health promotion campaigns should be constantly adjusted based on evaluation results, in accordance with the characteristics of epidemiological data and the health needs of target population.
Keywords
UTERINE CERVICAL NEOPLASMS – prevention and control; PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTIONS – prevention and control; HEALTH PROMOTION – methods, organization and administration; HEALTH EDUCATION – methods, trends; PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINES; VACCINATION; PUBLIC HEALTH; HEALTH COMMUNICATION; CROATIA
Hrčak ID:
322409
URI
Publication date:
18.11.2024.
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