Holly B Fontenot1, Heidi C Fantasia2, Ralph Vetters3, Gregory D Zimet4. 1. Boston College, W.F. Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, United States; The Fenway Institute, 1340 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215, United States; Fenway Health/Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center, 75 Kneeland St., Boston, MA 02111, United States. Electronic address: holly.fontenot@bc.edu. 2. University of Massachusetts Lowell, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, 113 Wilder Street, Lowell, MA 01854, United States. Electronic address: heidi_fantasia@uml.edu. 3. Fenway Health/Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center, 75 Kneeland St., Boston, MA 02111, United States. Electronic address: rvetters@fenwayhealth.org. 4. Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine, 410 West 10th St., Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States. Electronic address: gzimet@iu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is a disparity in HPV vaccination rates in particular among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and until very recently there has been a dearth of research examining factors related to HPV vaccination for YMSM. The purpose of this study was to elicit YMSM's beliefs about HPV and the HPV vaccine as well as describe perceived barriers and facilitators of vaccine initiation and completion. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive study that utilized a focus group design was conducted among an urban and racially diverse sample of YMSM. Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and focus group data were analyzed using content analysis. FINDINGS: 34 YMSM with a mean age of 20.8years participated. The sample was diverse, with the largest proportion of youth identifying as Black (35.4%). Over 90% reported having an annual exam each year, 61.8% reported obtaining a flu vaccine during the past year, and 58.8% reported initiating the HPV vaccine 3-dose series. Themes identified included low HPV knowledge and awareness, positive vaccine beliefs, perceived stigmas, and HPV vaccine facilitators. Participants identified 3 ways health providers/ researchers could facilitate vaccination: creative use of mobile technology, bundling vaccination with other health services, and increasing HPV and HPV vaccine awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings point to some clear avenues to pursue in research and practice to improve HPV vaccination rates among YMSM, including increased use of mobile health strategies, making HPV vaccination a co-occurring part of other health-related services (e.g., HIV testing), and providing information on the relevance of HPV and HPV vaccination to YMSM. Copyright Â
BACKGROUND: There is a disparity in HPV vaccination rates in particular among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and until very recently there has been a dearth of research examining factors related to HPV vaccination for YMSM. The purpose of this study was to elicit YMSM's beliefs about HPV and the HPV vaccine as well as describe perceived barriers and facilitators of vaccine initiation and completion. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive study that utilized a focus group design was conducted among an urban and racially diverse sample of YMSM. Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and focus group data were analyzed using content analysis. FINDINGS: 34 YMSM with a mean age of 20.8years participated. The sample was diverse, with the largest proportion of youth identifying as Black (35.4%). Over 90% reported having an annual exam each year, 61.8% reported obtaining a flu vaccine during the past year, and 58.8% reported initiating the HPV vaccine 3-dose series. Themes identified included low HPV knowledge and awareness, positive vaccine beliefs, perceived stigmas, and HPV vaccine facilitators. Participants identified 3 ways health providers/ researchers could facilitate vaccination: creative use of mobile technology, bundling vaccination with other health services, and increasing HPV and HPV vaccine awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings point to some clear avenues to pursue in research and practice to improve HPV vaccination rates among YMSM, including increased use of mobile health strategies, making HPV vaccination a co-occurring part of other health-related services (e.g., HIV testing), and providing information on the relevance of HPV and HPV vaccination to YMSM. Copyright Â
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