ASPO Abstracts
Informing the implementation pathway for addressing HPV vaccine hesitancy and uptake across diverse communities in Los Angeles
Category: Cancer Health Disparities
Conference Year: 2022
Abstract Body:
Purpose of the study: This qualitative study aims to understand HPV vaccine hesitancy and uptake among diverse parents to inform culturally specific, multilevel approaches for removing barriers and enhancing vaccine uptake.Methods: We recruited parents of children (9-17 years unvaccinated for HPV) from communities with low uptake in Los Angeles area for virtual focus groups (FGs) in English (2), Mandarin (1), and Spanish (1) between June-August 2021. One English FG was with American Indian (AI) identifying parents. FGs prompted discussions about HPV vaccine knowledge, sources of vaccine information/hesitancy, logistical barriers and interpersonal, healthcare and community interactions regarding HPV vaccination. Guided by the socioecological model, we identified emerging themes at the individual, interpersonal, community and societal levels.Results: All 4 FGs (19 parents) reported multiple sources of health information at the individual level. Both English FGs emphasized the internet, and Mandarin FG discussed native language radio/news. All FGs discussed interpersonal interactions with providers, friends and family including children about vaccine decision-making. All FGs shared complex navigation of relationships/sources to find trustworthy information and encountering HPV vaccine misinformation (e.g., causing aggressive behavior). The COVID-19 vaccine attitudes for their children did not necessarily align with HPV vaccine attitudes (e.g., some received COVID-19 vaccine but not HPV). At community level, historical events contributed to mistrust (e.g., concerns that vaccines may lead to sterilization [Spanish], and fragmented medical care due to forced community displacement [AI]). At societal level, barriers included lack of school nurses and transportation (Spanish, AI), and time off from work (Mandarin). Medical mistrust contributed to HPV vaccine hesitancy across FGs and levels.Conclusions: Our findings highlight differing sources of health information across communities amidst heightened impact of vaccine misinformation during the pandemic. Barriers and facilitators of HPV vaccine uptake (e.g., medical mistrust) varied by communities' historical context and emphasize the need for tailored multilevel approaches to address them in diverse populations.
Keywords: diverse communities, HPV vaccine hesitancy, mistrust