Correlates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiation and completion among 18-26 year olds in the United States

Human papillomavirus vaccination uptake among 27-to-45-year-olds in the United States

OBJECTIVE

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prevents six types of cancer. Previously, this vaccine was only approved for 9-26-year-olds. However, in October 2018 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the HPV vaccine for 27- to 45-year-olds (mid-adults). The current study aimed to assess HPV vaccination among a national sample of U.S adults aged 27-45 years. This study also assessed factors associated with HPV vaccine initiation after age 26.

METHODS

Data were analyzed using the 2019 National Health Interview Survey. The study included two samples: (1) mid-adults aged 27-45 (n = 8556), and (2) mid-adults who self-reported they had initiated HPV vaccination within the 27-45 age range and those who were unvaccinated (n = 7307). The outcome variables were HPV vaccination status and HPV vaccine initiation. The independent variables represented constructs from Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. The odds of HPV vaccination were estimated using weighted multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Overall, 15.6% had ever received the HPV vaccine and 13.1% initiated their first dose of the vaccine after age 26. Hispanic (aOR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.58, 0.92) and non-Hispanic Asian persons (aOR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.41, 0.84) had lower odds of ever receiving the vaccine than non-Hispanic White persons. Females (aOR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.42, 3.32) had higher odds of initiating the vaccine after age 26 than males.

CONCLUSIONS

The ACIP recommendation of shared clinical decision-making emphasizes the role of clinical interactions in HPV vaccine decision-making. Study findings highlight the need to further explore contextual factors that may influence HPV vaccine behavior among mid-adults.

Factors associated with HPV-associated sexual risk behaviors among sexually active college students

High-risk sexual behavior is the primary risk factor for the acquisition and persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the development of HPV-associated diseases including cancer. Incidence of HPV infection is high among individuals in their late teens and early 20s. Thus, college students represent a historically high-risk group for HPV infection yet are also a group with the ability to independently access HPV vaccination for HPV prevention. To inform future interventions, we examined factors associated with HPV-associated risky sexual behaviors among sexually active college students. Data (N = 741) were from an anonymous online survey distributed to students at a public Midwestern university in 2021. The outcomes were HPV-associated sexual risk behaviors-number of oral or vaginal sexual partners [high (≥ 5) or low (< 5)] and age of oral or vaginal sexual debut [early (< 18 years) or late (≥ 18 years)]. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated the association between HPV-associated risky sexual behaviors and several predictors including age, gender, relationship status, academic level, country of birth, and rural-urban status. Among sexually active students, approximately 47% and 41% had a high number of lifetime vaginal and oral partners, respectively. Among the same group, 60% and 64% had early vaginal and oral sexual debut. Students who were single and dating (aOR = 1.93; 95% CI = 1.21, 3.08) or single and not dating (2.11; 1.28, 3.48) were more likely to have a high number of vaginal lifetime partners compared with married students. Single (vs. married) students were also about twice as likely to have a high number of oral lifetime partners. Relative to graduate students, freshmen/sophomores were more likely to have an early vaginal (2.44; 1.45, 4.11) and oral (2.14; 1.26, 3.63) sexual debut. Interventions tailored to college freshmen/sophomores and unmarried students should encourage students to receive the HPV vaccine for prevention of future HPV-associated diseases.

HPV vaccination for prevention of head and neck cancer among men

ABSTRACT

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancer (HNC) has been rapidly increasing in developed countries, with HPV-associated HNC now accounting for 70% of all HNC cases. An increased incidence has been noted particularly among males. The disparities in HPV vaccine uptake rates and the increasing number of individuals with HPV-associated HNC suggest a lack of public awareness of both HPV sequelae and prevention options. This review highlights the importance of prophylactic HPV vaccination for preventing HPV-associated HNC, particularly in males. Current evidence substantiates the need for gender-neutral HPV vaccination programs and reinforces the recommendations made by the CDC. This article raises awareness of the association between HPV and HNC as well as the effectiveness of HPV vaccination in HNC prevention.

Correlates of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among U.S. College students

Hesitance toward COVID-19 vaccination has greatly decreased over the course of the pandemic in the U.S. However, some populations have lower vaccination rates than the general population. This study was conducted to identify correlates of being fully vaccinated (i.e., having received all doses required to be fully vaccinated) among college students using students' responses to the 2022 Spring American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment. The surveys were administered in March of 2022. The sample (n = 617) included 18-to-30-year-old students. Firth logistic regression models were performed that controlled for age, sex assigned at birth, and food security (at a 5% significance level). The model-assisted results indicated that being a member of sexual and gender minority communities, being a graduate student, and being concerned about someone close getting COVID-19 were positively associated with being fully vaccinated, while current use of any tobacco product and current use of e-cigarettes were negatively associated with being fully vaccinated (all p-values < 0.05). In addition, the percentage of fully vaccinated students was higher among transgender/gender non-binary students (95%) than among cisgender men and women (85-87%), and among sexual minority groups (93-97%) than among heterosexual/straight students (82%). Among the racial/ethnic groups considered, the percentage of fully vaccinated students was lowest among non-Hispanic Black/African American students (77%), but the racial/ethnic differences were not statistically significant (at 5% level). The study points to a critical need for development and implementation of tailored vaccination campaigns to help students from diverse communities, including tobacco users, make informed decisions and become fully vaccinated.

Efficacy of the Outsmart HPV Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Increase HPV Vaccination among Young Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

BACKGROUND

Routine human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is recommended for young adults, yet many young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YGBMSM) remain unvaccinated. We report the efficacy of Outsmart HPV, a web-based HPV vaccination intervention for YGBMSM.

METHODS

From 2019 to 2021, we recruited YGBMSM in the United States who were ages 18-25 and unvaccinated against HPV (n = 1,227). Participants were randomized to receive either: (i) Outsmart HPV content online and monthly interactive text reminders (interactive group); (ii) Outsmart HPV content online and monthly unidirectional text reminders (unidirectional group); or (iii) standard information online about HPV vaccine (control group). Regression models compared study groups on HPV vaccination outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall, 33% of participants reported initiating the HPV vaccine series and 7% reported series completion. Initiation was more common among participants in the interactive group compared with the control group [odds ratio (OR) = 1.47, 98.3% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-2.11]. Completion was more common among participants in both the interactive group (OR = 3.70, 98.3% CI: 1.75-7.83) and unidirectional group (OR = 2.26, 98.3% CI: 1.02-5.00) compared with the control group. Participants who received Outsmart HPV content reported higher levels of satisfaction with online content compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Outsmart HPV is an efficacious and acceptable HPV vaccination intervention for YGBMSM. Future efforts are needed to determine how to optimize the intervention and disseminate it to settings that provide services to YGBMSM.

IMPACT

Outsmart HPV is a promising tool for increasing HPV vaccination among YGBMSM with the potential for wide dissemination.

Incomplete HPV Vaccination among Individuals Aged 27-45 Years in the United States: A Mixed-Effect Analysis of Individual and Contextual Factors

Background: In the United States, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is approved for use in individuals up to age 45. Individuals 15 years and older require three doses of the vaccine to complete the recommended dosing series. Incomplete HPV vaccination rates (i.e., one or two doses) among those over age 26, however, remain high. This study examined the independent effects of individual- and neighborhood-level factors on incomplete HPV vaccination rates in the United States (U.S.) among those aged 27-45 years. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used administrative data from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database to identify individuals aged 27-45 years who received one or more doses of HPV vaccine between July 2019 and June 2022. Multilevel multivariable logistic regression models were applied to the data on 7662 individuals identified as being fully or partially vaccinated against HPV, nested within 3839 neighborhoods across the U.S. Results: Approximately half of the patients in this study (52.93%) were not completely vaccinated against HPV. After adjusting for all other covariates in the final model, being older than 30 years old decreased the odds of not completing the HPV vaccine series. Participants living in South-region neighborhoods of the U.S. had enhanced odds of not completing the vaccine series compared with those residing in Northeast-region neighborhoods (aOR 1.21; 95% CrI 1.03-1.42). There was significant clustering of incomplete HPV vaccination rates at the neighborhood level. Conclusions: This study revealed that individual- and neighborhood-level factors were associated with the risk of not completing the HPV vaccine series among individuals aged 27-45 years in the U.S. Interventions to improve HPV vaccination series completion rates for this age group should take into consideration both individual and contextual factors.

Factors Affecting Completion of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Series by Gender in a Predominantly Hispanic Border Town Community

OBJECTIVES

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for females and males aged 9 to 45. Nationally, the HPV vaccination rates are lower for males than females; however, this has not been studied in a US-Mexico border community. Our study aims to report the HPV vaccination completion by gender and determine which sociodemographic factors influence vaccination.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among uninsured and underinsured individuals aged between 9 and 26 years served through a community-based HPV vaccine program in El Paso, TX. Data collected included demographic information, psychosocial variables, and vaccine administration data. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic data. Unadjusted t test/Fisher exact test and multivariable relative risk regression were run on significant variables to determine the association with vaccine completion by gender.

RESULTS

Most participants were female (63.4%), and an overall vaccine series completion was 30.67%. We found no significant difference in HPV vaccine completion rates by gender. Males who resided in the United States for more than a decade were 31% more likely to complete the vaccine series, and females who had 9 to 13 years of education had lower odds of vaccine completion. Knowledge significantly increased after the intervention for both genders (p = .002). There was no significant change in psychosocial variables from the preintervention to the immediate postintervention survey.

CONCLUSIONS

Our multicomponent, culturally tailored intervention may equally impact male and female participants and encourages all genders to complete their HPV vaccine series. Additional studies with a larger male sample are needed.

Incidence of human papillomavirus-related cancers among males and females aged 15-34 years in the United States

Postmarket surveillance of the incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers is essential to monitor the effectiveness of HPV vaccines. We directly compared HPV-related cancer incidences during the pre- and postvaccine era to assess the effects of HPV vaccination among vaccine-eligible age groups in the United States using data from the US Cancer Statistics database. The 5-year average annual incidence rates for HPV-related cancers decreased in 2015-2019 compared with 2002-2006 among females aged 15-24 years and 25-34 years. Overall, a decrease in young males was not observed, whereas males aged 25-34 years experienced a slight decline in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma between 2005-2009 and 2015-2019. Incidence rates for HPV-related cancers statistically significantly decreased in the vaccine era compared with the prevaccine era among females aged 15-34 years, suggesting the potential early effects of the introduction of HPV vaccination in the United States.

HPV Vaccination Adherence in Working-Age Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection in the world. HPV vaccination adherence rates in men are generally lower than in women. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess adherence to HPV vaccination in young working-age males (18-30 years old).

METHODS

A systematic review was performed using three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).

RESULTS

After duplicate removal, the initial search resulted in 478 eligible papers. With the exclusion of 425 papers after screening the abstracts, full texts of 53 articles were reviewed. Subsequently, 45 were excluded. Among the eight studies included, four (50%) examined the vaccination adherence in young adults through data registered in nationwide insurance or private companies' databases, three (37.5%) in young adults in different settings through data collected from surveys and questionnaires, and one (12.5%) an HPV vaccination campaign in a family medicine residency practice.

CONCLUSION

Adherence to HPV vaccination in men of working age (18-30 years) does not appear to be adequate (pooled prevalence 11%). In order to achieve a higher level of compliance, it is important to place an emphasis on vaccination campaigns in schools as well as in the workplace, after consultation with and approval from local, regional, and federal public health agencies.

Predictor of HPV Vaccination Uptake among Foreign-Born College Students in the U.S.: An Exploration of the Role of Acculturation and the Health Belief Model

OBJECTIVE

to measure the HPV vaccination rate and knowledge about HPV and its vaccine among foreign-born college students; additionally, to measure the effect of acculturation and HBM constructs on the HPV vaccination behavior among foreign-born college students.

METHODS

a cross-sectional design with a non-probability sample of foreign-born college students was collected via a web-based self-administered survey that measured the HPV vaccination rate, assessed knowledge about HPV and its vaccine, and evaluated the effect of acculturation and HBM constructs on HPV vaccination behavior among foreign-born college students.

RESULTS

Foreign-born college students had moderate knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine, and about 63% were HPV-vaccinated. Perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, and cues to action were significantly associated with the HPV vaccination behavior, while knowledge levels about HPV and the HPV vaccine and acculturation levels were not significantly associated with the HPV vaccination behavior of foreign-born college students.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study shows a moderate vaccination rate and moderate knowledge about HPV and its vaccine among foreign-born college students. Additionally, vaccination campaigns need to increase awareness about the susceptibility to acquiring HPV and minimize the barriers to receiving the vaccine to increase the HPV vaccination rate among foreign-born college students.

Sexual Behaviors and Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in a Heterosexually Active Adult Population at Increased Risk for HIV Infection

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually acquired infection in the US. Vaccination is effective against infection with high-risk HPV strains, yet HPV vaccine coverage is lower in the US than the national target. This study aimed to determine the relationship between sexual behaviors and HPV vaccination in a heterosexually active population at increased risk for HIV infection. Data from 380 participants aged 18-45 years obtained from the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system increased risk heterosexuals cycle 5 (2019) in Houston, Texas, was analyzed. RDS-Analyst was used to generate population-based descriptive statistics. Modified Poisson regression models clustered on recruitment chain were conducted in SAS 9.4 to assess the relationship between sexual behaviors and HPV vaccination. Only 11.5% of participants had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Regarding behaviors within the past 12 months, 44.8% reported having condomless casual sex, 51.3% reported having concurrent sexual partnerships while in their most recent relationship, 14.5% reported exchanging sex, and participants had an average of 4-5 sex partners. Further, those who exchanged sex had a significantly lower prevalence of HPV vaccine uptake when compared to those who did not exchange sex (adjusted prevalence ratio 0.23; confidence interval 0.10-0.52), while all other measures of sexual behavior were not significantly associated with HPV vaccination. More research is needed to understand the relationship between exchange sex and low prevalence of vaccination, specifically in women who bear the highest burden of poor HPV-related morbidity and mortality.

"What does it matter?" Young sexual minority men discuss their conversations with sexual partners about HPV vaccination

Objective: Human papillomavirus vaccination coverage is suboptimal, especially among males. Social networks influence young adults' health behaviors and could be leveraged to promote vaccination. We sought to describe how young sexual minority men communicate about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination with their sexual partners. Participants: National (U.S.) sample of sexual minority men ages 18-26 (n = 42) from January 2019. Methods: We conducted four online focus groups and identified salient themes using inductive content analysis. Results: Across groups, participants described that HPV vaccination is not a focus of their conversations with sexual partners. Other key themes related to HPV vaccine communication included: varying discissions based on relationship type, and valuing conversations with partners about safer sex. Conclusions: Findings provide novel insight into how young sexual minority men communicate with their sexual partners about HPV vaccination and identify potential areas for interventions to promote communication. Future research is needed to investigate associations between partner communication and HPV vaccine uptake.

Integrated Health Maintenance Reminders for Improved HPV Vaccine Administration: Toward Improvements in Completion Disparities

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a health maintenance reminder (HMR) on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine administration and completion across different age, insurance, and race cohorts.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective pre-post analysis.

SETTING

Academic primary care.

METHODS

Patients aged 9 to 26 who had initiated the HPV vaccine series from 2016 to 2021 were analyzed, based on current age-based standards. The cohort was divided based on vaccine uptake before and after the implementation of the HMR program in February 2020. The multivariate analysis estimated the odds of vaccine completion based on sociodemographic factors, and variable interactions were investigated to determine independent associations between sociodemographic factors and HMR implementation.

RESULTS

There were 7654 individual patients (mean age was 15.8 years; 46.7 were males; and 50.7% were white). HPV vaccine completion rates increased post-HMR implementation by 59.2% (37% pre-, and 58.9% post-HMR; p < .001) in the entire cohort. Overall, black patients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60, 0.70) and patients ≥18 years (aOR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.15) were significantly less likely to complete their vaccine series; however, this improved significantly following HMR in these groups (p < .001). Post-HMR, race, and insurance status were not independently associated with disparate vaccine completion rates, however, age was, and patients ≤14 or younger had higher odds of vaccine completion (aOR = 3.54; 95% CI: 2.91, 4.32).

CONCLUSION

The implementation of an HMR was associated with increased HPV vaccine uptake across age and race groups in this single-institution study. Future research should explore barriers to implementing HMRs in different healthcare settings.

Human Papillomavirus vaccination clinical decision support for young adults in an upper midwestern healthcare system: a clinic cluster-randomized control trial

INTRODUCTION

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates are low in young adults. Clinical decision support (CDS) in primary care may increase HPV vaccination. We tested the treatment effect of algorithm-driven, web-based, and electronic health record-linked CDS with or without shared decision-making tools (SDMT) on HPV vaccination rates compared to usual care (UC).

METHODS

In a clinic cluster-randomized control trial conducted in a healthcare system serving a largely rural population, we randomized 34 primary care clinic clusters (with three clinics sharing clinicians randomized together) to: CDS; CDS+SDMT; UC. The sample included young adults aged 18-26 due for HPV vaccination with a study index visit from 08/01/2018-03/15/2019 in a study clinic. Generalized linear mixed models tested differences in HPV vaccination status 12 months after index visits by study arm.

RESULTS

Among 10,253 patients, 6,876 (65.2%) were due for HPV vaccination, and 5,054 met study eligibility criteria. In adjusted analyses, the HPV vaccination series was completed by 12 months in 2.3% (95% CI: 1.6%-3.2%) of CDS, 1.6% (95% CI: 1.1%-2.3%) of CDS+SDMT, and 2.2% (95% CI: 1.6%-3.0%) of UC patients, and at least one HPV vaccine was received by 12 months in 13.1% (95% CI: 10.6%-16.1%) of CDS, 9.2% (95% CI: 7.3%-11.6%) of CDS+SDMT, and 11.2% (95% CI: 9.1%-13.7%) of UC patients. Differences were not significant between arms. Females, those with prior HPV vaccinations, and those seen at urban clinics had significantly higher odds of HPV vaccination in adjusted models.

DISCUSSION

CDS may require optimization for young adults to significantly impact HPV vaccination.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov NCT02986230, 12/6/2016.

Association between Sexual Activity and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Initiation and Completion among College Students

HPV vaccination is most effective if received before initiation of sexual activity. Previous studies suggested that young adult women who were not sexually active were not interested in receiving the vaccine because they did not think it was necessary. Whether this misperception is still prevalent today-and also shared by men-is unknown. This study examined whether sexual activity was associated with HPV vaccine uptake (initiation and completion) among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and May 2021 among students (n = 951) at a public Midwestern University. Sexual activity was categorized as "never" or "ever" had oral and/or vaginal sex. Outcome variables were HPV vaccine initiation, defined as receipt of ≥1 dose, and completion, defined as receipt of ≥3 doses. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated the association between sexual activity and HPV vaccine uptake, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Approximately 18% of students reported never engaging in sexual activity. Overall, 45.5% initiated the HPV vaccine, and 16.5% completed the vaccine series. After adjusting for covariates, compared to students that reported never engaging in sexual activity, those that had ever engaged in sexual activity were more likely to have initiated the vaccine series (aOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.34-3.17); however, no difference was observed for completion. HPV vaccination was low; sexually naïve students were less likely to initiate the HPV vaccine. Since sexually naïve students may benefit from receiving the HPV vaccination, targeted interventions should be implemented towards this population to help increase vaccination rates and prevent HPV-associated diseases.

Medical students' knowledge of HPV, HPV vaccine, and HPV-associated head and neck cancer

On the basis of their training, medical students are considered "the best case scenario" among university students in knowledge of the human papillomavirus (HPV). We evaluated differences in knowledge of HPV, HPV vaccine, and head and neck cancer (HNC) among medical students. A previously validated questionnaire was completed by 247 medical students at a Midwestern university. Outcomes of interest were knowledge score for HPV and HPV vaccine, and HNC, derived from combining questionnaire items to form HPV knowledge and HNC scores, and analyzed using multivariate linear regression. Mean scores for HPV knowledge were 19.4 out of 26, and 7.2 out of 12 for HNC knowledge. In the final multivariate linear regression model, sex, race, and year of study were independently associated with HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge. Males had significantly lower HPV vaccine knowledge than females (β = -1.53; 95% CI: -2.53, -0.52), as did nonwhite students (β = -1.05; 95% CI: -2.07, -0.03). There was a gradient in HPV vaccine knowledge based on the year of study, highest among fourth year students (β = 6.75; 95% CI: 5.17, 8.33). Results were similar for factors associated with HNC knowledge, except for sex. HNC knowledge similarly increased based on year of study, highest for fourth year students (β = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.72, 3.29). Among medical students, gaps remain in knowledge of HPV, HPV vaccine, and HPV-linked HNC. Male medical students have significantly lower knowledge of HPV. This highlights the need to increase medical student knowledge of HPV and HPV-linked HNC.

HPV vaccination initiation among white, black and Middle East North African (MENA) males

Objectives

US males initiate HPV vaccination at older ages than females and currently have low population coverage. We aim to describe the prevalence and predictors of HPV vaccination initiation among males of White, Black, and Middle-Eastern/North-African (MENA) descent in southeast Michigan.

Methods

We conducted three community-based surveys in 2019 that provided primary data via self report. Using population weights and multivariate modeling, we measured the prevalence and predictors of HPV vaccine initiation in each race/ethnicity of men (age 18–34 years) analyzed.

Results

The vaccine initiation rates were 44.5 % (95 % CI: 44.4, 44.6) for White men, 46.2 % (46.0, 46.4) for Black men, and 23.2 % (22.8, 23.6) for MENA men, (p < 0.001). Being a student, compared to unemployed or disabled, was significantly associated with HPV vaccine initiation across all three races/ethnicities. Married men of any race/ethnicity were unlikely to be vaccinated. MENA men born in the US and having some college education were also more likely to initiate HPV vaccination.

Conclusions

White, Black, and MENA men are not vaccinated in accord with Healthy (Healthy People 2030, 2022) goals. Each race/ethnicity has different predictors of vaccination.

The impact of HPV vaccine narratives on social media: Testing narrative engagement theory with a diverse sample of young adults

Rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are highest in young adults, who can be vaccinated against HPV if they were not vaccinated as adolescents. Since young adults increasingly access health information on social media, we tested the impact of a social media campaign with narrative-based health information on intentions related to HPV vaccination. We also aimed to understand which ads resonated most with young adults and led to higher survey completion rates. We created social media posts featuring videos promoting HPV vaccination. We launched a sponsored ad campaign on Facebook to reach young women, ages 18–26, across the country. Participants were randomly assigned one of 6 videos and then completed a brief survey about video engagement and intentions to: talk with a health care professional, talk with friends or family, and vaccinate against HPV. A descriptive correlational design and a test for moderation were used to explore hypothesized relationships. Across all ads, 1332 link clicks led to 991 completed surveys that were reduced to 607 surveys (95 % ages 18–26, 63 % non-Caucasian; 58 % sexually active). Higher video engagement was associated with stronger intentions to talk with a health care professional (r = 0.44, p =.01), talk with friends/family (r = 0.52, p =.01), and vaccinate against HPV (r = 0.43, p =.01). Young adults were receptive to watching narrative-based health information videos on social media. When promoting HPV vaccination, more engaging information leads to greater intentions to talk about the vaccine and get vaccinated.

Barriers to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among young adults, aged 18–35

•

Most HPV vaccine eligible adults are not at all likely to get vaccinated for HPV.

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Motivational barriers include the belief that the vaccine is unnecessary and unsafe.

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When other barriers are present, lack of provider recommendation is not associated.

In the United States (US), an estimated 35,900 human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers are diagnosed annually. HPV vaccines are projected to eliminate ∼90% of these cancers. Routine vaccination is recommended at age 11–12 with “catch-up” vaccination through age 26 and shared clinical decision making for ages 27–45. However, vaccine uptake has been slow with many young adults remaining unvaccinated. This study examined barriers to HPV vaccination among individuals aged 18–35 years and assessed likelihood of future HPV vaccination.

Age-eligible participants (n = 499) recruited through Facebook advertisements, Facebook posts, and clinics (6/2019–3/2020) completed an online survey. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis examined HPV vaccine barriers and intent. Logistic regression models examined predictors of HPV vaccine intent.

Most (57.1%) reported they were not at all likely to get vaccinated for HPV in the future. Lower intent was associated with belief that the vaccine is not necessary (aOR: 0.134, 95% CI: 0.073, 0.246) and not safe (aOR: 0.312, 95% CI: 0.126, 0.773). Intent was positively associated with the belief that health insurance would not cover vaccination (aOR: 2.226, 95% CI: 1.070, 4.631). Provider recommendation was not significantly associated with vaccine intention.

This study highlights challenges to HPV vaccine uptake for young adults. Though several successful interventions exist, most target adolescents and their parents or providers. Future steps should use this evidence to inform development of targeted interventions to increase HPV vaccine intention and uptake in adults, ultimately reducing the burden of HPV-related cancers.

Perceptions, Knowledge and Attitudes among Young Adults about Prevention of HPV Infection and Immunization

Introduction: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and is widely known as the main causative agent for cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions, knowledge and attitudes of young Greek adults concerning prevention of HPV infection and HPV immunization. Material and Methods: This constitutes a cross-sectional online survey. A convenience sample of young Greek adults (n = 883) residing in Greece, aged 17 to more than 35 years was surveyed from December 2020 to March 2021. Two validated questionnaires were used to collect data. Results: Participants demonstrated moderate knowledge about HPV infection and vaccination, with a mean knowledge score of 53.26 (SD ± 20.65) and 38.92 (SD ± 17.58), respectively. Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.77 and 0.80. Female participants were better informed than males. Approximately 52.3% of respondents had been vaccinated and 65.5% were willing to get vaccinated in the future. Vaccination rate was significantly associated with gender (OR = 11.99; 99% CI = 6.59–21.84), knowledge about the HPV vaccine (OR = 1.04; 99% CI = 1.03–1.04) and age (OR = 0.07; 99% CI = 0.03–0.15). Reasons for vaccine refusal were insufficient information (36.8%) and fear of side effects (19%). Correlates of positive vaccination intention were knowledge about HPV (OR = 1.02; 99% CI = 1.01–1.02). Conclusions: The findings suggest that the Greek government’s continuing HPV promotion efforts and education on the risks of HPV infection among young people are likely to increase vaccination acceptance among this group.

HPV vaccination and factors influencing vaccine uptake among people of Indian ancestry living in the United States

Approximately one-quarter of annual global cervical cancer deaths occur in India, possibly due to cultural norms promoting vaccine hesitancy. We sought to determine whether people of Indian ancestry (POIA) in the USA exhibit disproportionately lower human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination rates than the rest of the US population. We utilised the 2018 National Health Interview Survey to compare HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates between POIA and the general US population and determined factors correlating with HPV vaccine uptake among POIA. Compared to other racial groups, POIA had a significantly lower rate of HPV vaccination (8.18% vs. 12.16%, 14.70%, 16.07% and 12.41%, in White, Black, Other Asian and those of other/mixed ancestry, respectively, P = 0.003), but no statistically significant difference in vaccine series completion among those who received at least one injection (3.17% vs. 4.27%, 3.51%, 4.31% and 5.04%, P = 0.465). Among POIA, younger individuals (vs. older), single individuals (vs. married), those with high English proficiency (vs. low English proficiency), those with health insurance and those born in the USA (vs. those born outside the USA) were more likely to obtain HPV vaccination (P = 0.018, P = 0.006, P = 0.029, P = 0.020 and P = 0.019, respectively). Public health measures promoting HPV vaccination among POIA immigrants may substantially improve vaccination rates among this population.

Disparities in human papillomavirus vaccination coverage in the United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, January 2017-March 2020

BACKGROUND

We assessed disparities in HPV vaccination coverage by sociodemographic characteristics in the United States.

METHODS

Using 2017-March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, we estimated vaccination coverage of ≥ 1 dose of HPV vaccine by race/ethnicity and poverty, insurance, and nativity status for females and males aged 9-14, 15-19, and 20-29 years.

RESULTS

Among those aged 9-14 years, coverage among non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian (NHA) females (40.0%, 33.6%, 34.0%) and males (27.1%, 35.3%, 30.9%) was higher than non-Hispanic White (NHW) females (26.5%) and males (25.2%). Among those aged 15-19 and 20-29 years, coverage varied among NHB, Hispanic, and NHA compared to NHW females and was lower among NHB, Hispanic, and NHA than NHW males. Coverage was lower among uninsured than insured in most comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

HPV vaccination coverage varied by race/ethnicity and other characteristics. Efforts are needed to increase HPV vaccination coverage in all populations.

A Real-world Claims Data Analysis of Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine Series Completion and Potential Missed Opportunities in the United States

BACKGROUND

In the United States, meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccination is recommended for 16-23-year-olds based on shared clinical decision-making. We estimated series completion among individuals initiating MenB vaccination for the 2 available vaccines: MenB 4-component (MenB-4C, doses at 0 and ≥1 month) and MenB factor H binding protein (MenB-FHbp, doses at 0 and 6 months).

METHODS

This retrospective health insurance claims data analysis included 16-23-year-olds who initiated MenB vaccination (index date) during January 2017 to November 2018 (MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database) or January 2017 to September 2018 (MarketScan Multi-State Medicaid Database) and had continuous enrollment for ≥6 months before and ≥15 months after index. The main outcome was MenB vaccine series completion within 15 months. Among noncompleters, preventive care/well-child and vaccine administrative office visits were identified as potential missed opportunities for series completion. Robust Poisson regression models identified independent predictors of series completion.

RESULTS

In the Commercial (n = 156,080) and Medicaid (n = 57,082) populations, series completion was 56.7% and 44.7%, respectively, and was higher among those who initiated MenB-4C versus MenB-FHbp (61.1% versus 49.8% and 47.8% versus 33.9%, respectively; both P < 0.001). Among noncompleters, 40.2% and 34.7% of the Commercial and Medicaid populations, respectively, had ≥1 missed opportunity for series completion. Receipt of MenB-4C and younger age were independently associated with a higher probability of series completion.

CONCLUSIONS

Series completion rates were suboptimal but were higher among those who initiated MenB-4C. To maximize the benefits of MenB vaccination, interventions to improve completion and reduce missed opportunities should be implemented.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Initiation and Completion Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority U.S. Adults

Purpose: The current study examined the relationship between sexual orientation and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination status (no vaccination vs. vaccination initiation [one to two doses] or completion [three or more doses]) among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Methods: Pooled Integrated Public Use Microdata Series-National Health Interview Survey data from 2013 to 2017 were used. The analysis sample (N = 35,266) reported on HPV vaccination status, sexual orientation, and demographic covariates. Multinomial logistic regression, stratified by sex, was conducted to assess the relationship between sexual orientation and HPV vaccination status. Results: Most of the sample (80.37%) had not received any HPV vaccination dose, and only ∼10% reported vaccine completion (three or more doses). After adjusting for demographic covariates, gay and bisexual males were more likely than heterosexual males to initiate (gay: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.67-3.62; bisexual: AOR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.28-4.12) and complete (gay: AOR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.45-4.65; bisexual: AOR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.56-6.55) HPV vaccination. Bisexual females were more likely than heterosexual females to initiate (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.55-2.54) and complete (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.23-1.86) HPV vaccination. Females of another sexual orientation were less likely than heterosexual females to complete HPV vaccination (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.26-0.92). Conclusions: HPV vaccination remains low across sexual orientation groups. Sexual minority status may be a promotive factor in HPV vaccination for specific subgroups.

Thoughts and Consideration Regarding Immigrant Clinicians: Is Cultural Preservation Influencing Providers' Practice in HPV Vaccination?

Immigrant clinicians are vital to population healthcare delivery and therefore population health. One in four physicians in the United States are foreign-born and notably represented in family and pediatric medicine - specialties charged with administering childhood/adolescent vaccines, such as Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPVV). Our examination suggests there may be unique cultural and socialization factors that influence clinician HPVV recommendation practice; however, immigrant clinicians have not been adequately engaged within the national HPVV agenda. Given the volume and significance of immigrant clinicians, engagement of these clinicians, in both community and nation-wide efforts to increase HPVV, is a necessary step for improving and achieving the national health goal of optimizing HPVV for cancer prevention.

Vaccination coverage against human papillomavirus (HPV) and associated factors in female academics from a university in southwestern Goiás, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To check the coverage of the HPV vaccine in women enrolled in health courses at a university in southwest Goiás, Brazil, and the factors associated with vaccination.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study, including female university students of health courses, aged 18 years or more. A standardized and self-applying questionnaire was used. Participants who received two or more doses of the vaccine were considered immunized. Multiple analysis was performed using multinomial logistic regression.

RESULT

We observed that, of the 1510 participants, 473 (31.3%) had two or more doses of HPV vaccine, 167 (11.0%) one dose and 870 (57.6%) were unvaccinated. Participants under 21 years of age and in socioeconomic stratum A were 2 times more likely to have received two or more doses of the vaccine (Prevalence Ratio = 1.95; 95%CI 1.40-2.70 and Prevalence Ratio = 2.09; 95%CI 1.39-3.13, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The research revealed extensive possibility for interventions with the aim of achieving greater vaccination coverage among female university students. Even women with more knowledge and high economic stratum showed low vaccination coverage, suggesting that results of higher vaccine coverage can be obtained with vaccination carried out in a school environment.

Factors affecting human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in men: A systematic literature review (Preprint)

Background

Despite the high risks associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), the HPV vaccination rate of men is far lower than women. Most previous review studies have focused on female vaccination and related affecting factors. However, previous studies have reported that the factors affecting HPV vaccination differ by gender.

Objective

The aim of this review was to identify the factors affecting HPV vaccine initiation in men through a systematic review approach.

Methods

A literature review was conducted across 3 central electronic databases for relevant articles. A total of 30 articles published between 2013 and 2019 met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed in this study.

Results

In total, 50 factors affecting HPV vaccination in men were identified, including 13 sociodemographic factors and social structure factors, 12 belief-related variables, 4 family factors, 4 community factors, 14 variables related to needs, and 3 environmental factors.

Conclusions

To increase HPV vaccination rates in men, strategies targeting young males and their families should consider frequent visits to or contact with health care providers so that health care professionals can provide recommendations for HPV vaccination.

HPV vaccine for men: Where to? (Review)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most widespread human pathogens. For a long time, it was treated as an opportunistic infection, but it is in actuality one of the most dangerous carcinogens. It is responsible for numerous malignancies: Cervical, penile, oropharyngeal, vaginal, vulvar and some anal neoplasia. The need for a long-term solution was evident and thus HPV vaccines were proven to be a viable solution. Women and men who have sex with men, and young men are included in the vaccination template. A thorough review using PubMed and other databases that included articles on vaccine templates and targeted male patients was carried out. After review of all of the studies conducted on this subject, there is a clear benefit for HPV vaccination for men. Yet, even with the introduction of a national vaccine program for HPV for women and girls in most developed countries, regarding the male vaccine program, few countries have established a national program. Still, a gender-neutral vaccine remains a controversial issue. It is important to monitor the impact of HPV vaccine in men and the benefits that occur, to inform and spread the results in order to implement this vaccine program worldwide. Any monitoring plan regarding the HPV vaccination must include HPV prevalence, anogenital warts, and anal cancer. The largest impact regarding the range of this type of vaccine is the surveillance of the specific targeted population. HPV vaccine is a very efficient immunization method. Women are obviously the first target, but there are still many contradictions regarding men. Most of the reasons reside in the cost-efficiency aspect, but there is still great debate regarding the most efficient vaccine in the male population.

Human papillomavirus vaccination uptake among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults in the United States

PURPOSE

To examined HPV vaccination rates and identified factors that are associated with HPV vaccination among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) young adults aged 18-34.

METHODS

Data from the 2014 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey were analyzed. The outcome variables were HPV vaccination initiation (receipt of ≥1 dose) and completion (receipt of ≥3 doses). Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify socio-demographic, healthcare access and utilization factors that were associated with HPV vaccination.

RESULTS

A total of 663 adults were included in the study. The overall HPV vaccination initiation and completion rates were 17.6% and 7.9%, respectively. HPV vaccination initiation was higher among females than males (28.4% vs 7.2%; P<0.0001) and completion was also higher among females than males (13.7% vs 2.3%; P<0.0001). In the weighted multivariable models, compared with females, males were less likely to initiate (AOR=0.21, 95% CI=0.12, 0.34) and complete (AOR=0.16, 95% CI=0.07, 0.34) the HPV vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

The low HPV vaccination coverage found in this study signals the need for more evidence-based, culturally relevant immunization and cancer prevention interventions for NHPIs. Failure to improve HPV vaccination rates may increase the burden of HPV associated preventable cancers among NHPIs and broaden disparities.

Trends in the rates of health-care providers' recommendation for HPV vaccine from 2012 to 2018: a multi-round cross-sectional analysis of the health information national trends survey

The 2012 report of the President's Cancer Panel highlighted the overriding contribution of missed clinical opportunities to suboptimal HPV vaccination coverage. Since then, it remains unknown whether the rates of provider recommendations for the HPV vaccine in the US population have increased. We conducted an analysis of four rounds of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a household survey of civilian US residents aged 18 y or older. A total of 1,415 (2012), 1,476 (2014), 1,208 (2017), and 1,344 (2018) respondents to the HINTS survey who were either HPV vaccine-eligible or living with HPV vaccine-eligible individuals were included. Overall, the rates of providers' recommendations remained stagnated from 2012 to 2018 in all categories of the study population, except for non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs), where this prevalence increased during the study period (AAPC = 16.4%, p < .001). In vaccine-eligible individuals (18-27 y), declining trends were noted overall (AAPC = -21.6%, p < .001), among NHWs (AAPC = -30.2%, p < .001) and urban dwellers (AAPC = -21.4%, p < .001). Among vaccine-ineligible respondents (˃27 y) living with vaccine-eligible individuals, trends in the prevalence of provider recommendations for HPV vaccine were stagnating overall (AAPC = 0.5%, p = .90), and increasing only among NHBs (AAPC = 13.9%, p < .001). Despite recent progress, our findings indicate variations of trends in provider recommendations for the HPV vaccine in the US adult population according to age, sex, race/ethnicity, and residence. To accelerate HPV vaccination uptake, immediate actions to enhance provider recommendation for HPV vaccine are needed.

Factors associated with HPV vaccination initiation among United States college students

Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the U.S. despite widespread availability of a safe, effective vaccine. Although young adults are at greatest risk of HPV infection, extensive vaccine promotion and intervention efforts has been directed toward 11-12-year-olds. College students represent an ideal audience for HPV vaccine "catch-up;" however, research indicates inconsistent HPV vaccination rates within this demographic. An online survey assessing HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge and behaviors was distributed to all undergraduate college students at a large, public university in the Deep South region of the U.S. The primary outcome was receipt of HPV vaccination (binary response options of Yes/No). Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of HPV vaccination. Of the 1,725 who completed the survey, 47.0% reported having received at least one dose of HPV vaccine; overall series completion (series = 3 doses for this population) was 17.4%. The primary outcome was HPV initiation among college students, defined as having received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Results indicated substantial gaps in participants' knowledge of their vaccination status. Provider and parental recommendations as well as social influences were shown to significantly impact student vaccination status, emphasizing the importance of incorporating these elements in future interventions, potentially as multi-level strategies. Future college interventions should address HPV and vaccination knowledge and the importance of provider and parental recommendations.

Geographic Variation in Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Initiation and Completion Among Young Adults in the U.S

INTRODUCTION

This study explores how human papillomavirus vaccination initiation and completion among men and women aged 18-34 years varies by geographic region.

METHODS

Data from the 2015-2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed. Geographic regions for the selected states were defined as South, Northeast, and Midwest/West. Human papillomavirus vaccination initiation was defined as receipt of ≥1 dose, and completion was defined as receipt of ≥3 doses. Weighted, multivariable logistic regression models estimated the association between geographic region and vaccine uptake, adjusting for sociodemographic, health, and healthcare factors. Analyses were performed in November 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 18,078 adults were included in the study, 80% of whom resided in the South. The overall vaccination initiation rate was 23.4%, and the completion rate was 11.0%. Initiation was higher among those who resided in the Northeast (38.6%), followed by Midwest/West (23.8%), and lowest for those in the South (21.8%) (p<0.0001). Completion rates followed the same trend as initiation. In the adjusted models, compared with the adults residing in the Northeast, those living in the South were less likely to initiate (AOR=0.47, 95% CI=0.40, 0.55) and complete (AOR=0.56, 95% CI=0.46, 0.68) human papillomavirus vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

Human papillomavirus vaccine uptake was low for all regions, but vaccine uptake was significantly lower in the South region. This demonstrates the need to identify barriers specifically associated with the Southern population, which may include differing levels of education and insurance. Such work is especially pertinent because many Southern states face increased risk of human papillomavirus-associated cancers such as cervix and oral cavity and pharynx cancers.

Differences in Sociodemographic Correlates of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancer Survival in the United States

OBJECTIVES

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers account for about 9% of the cancer mortality burden in the United States; however, survival differs among sociodemographic factors. We determine sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with HPV-associated cancer survival.

METHODS

Data derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 cancer registry were analyzed for a cohort of adult patients diagnosed with a first primary HPV-associated cancer (anal, cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers), between 2007 and 2015. Multivariable Fine and Gray proportional hazards regression models stratified by anatomic site estimated the association of sociodemographic and clinical variables and cancer-specific survival.

RESULTS

A total of 77 774 adults were included (11 216 anal, 27 098 cervical, 30 451 oropharyngeal, 2221 penile, 1176 vaginal, 5612 vulvar; average age = 57.2 years). The most common HPV-associated cancer was cervical carcinoma (58%) for females and oropharyngeal (81%) for male. Among patients diagnosed with anal/rectal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), males had a higher risk of death than females. NonHispanic (NH) blacks had a higher risk of death from anal/rectal SCC, oropharyngeal SCC, and cervical carcinoma; and Hispanics had a higher risk of death from oropharyngeal SCC than NH whites. Marital status was associated with risk of death for all anatomic sites except vulvar. Compared to nonMedicaid insurance, patients with Medicaid and uninsured had higher risk of death from anal/rectal SCC, oropharyngeal SCC, and cervical carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

There exists gender (anal) and racial and insurance (anal, cervical, and oropharyngeal) disparities in relative survival. Concerted efforts are needed to increase and sustain progress made in HPV vaccine uptake among these specific patient subgroups, to reduce cancer incidence.

Human papillomavirus vaccination: coverage rate, knowledge, acceptance, and associated factors in college students in mainland China

In China, there are about 131,500 new cases of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection every year. However, studies focused on the related cognitions in the general college-going population, who belong to an at-risk age group and are of childbearing age, are relatively limited. Thus, this cross-sectional online survey study, conducted from December 2018 to March 2019, sought to investigate HPV vaccination rates, knowledge, acceptance, and associated factors in this population. Descriptive analysis and ordinal logistic regression analysis were conducted to analyze the factors associated with HPV vaccination intention. A total of 1,029 questionnaires were collected, of which 1,022 were valid (males: 267, females: 755). As per the results, only 3.1% of the sample had been vaccinated against HPV. The overall levels of knowledge about HPV and its vaccination were low. Male students' knowledge about HPV types, infection symptoms, vaccination cycles, and preventable diseases was significantly lower than that of female students. As for acceptance, only 36.9% of females and 24.8% of males indicated that they would choose to undergo HPV vaccination. Chinese college students' knowledge of HPV and its vaccination is limited. More than half of the sample was unsure about undergoing HPV vaccination, with concerns about safety and effectiveness serving as the main barriers. Measures such as strengthening health education, improving vaccination safety and effectiveness, and reducing vaccine prices should be taken to promote HPV vaccination among Chinese college students.

Awareness of HPV and drivers of HPV vaccine uptake among university students: A quantitative, cross-sectional study

HPV vaccination is a milestone in primary prevention. However in Italy, vaccine coverage is still nowhere near the target of 95%. We investigated factors associated with inclination to get vaccinated in university students, as they are likely to have just assumed a central role in their healthcare decision-making. University students aged 18-25 were asked to fill in a questionnaire. The effect of socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics on HPV awareness was assessed with a logistic regression adjusting for age, gender, nationality, degree course, relationship, age at first intercourse, number of sexual partners, smoking, sexual orientation, past diagnosis of STDs and knowledge of people who had received HPV vaccine. A second regression adjusting also for information sources, awareness and knowledge investigated factors associated with inclination to receive vaccine. Nine thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight questionnaires were included (response rate 91.3%); awareness of HPV and vaccine was 83.3% and 69.9% respectively. Awareness (AOR: 3.3; 95% CI: 2.3-4.6) and a good knowledge positively affected acceptability, as well as a previous diagnosis of STDs and knowledge of vaccinated people. Healthcare workers (AOR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.4-1.9) and family members (AOR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.4-2.1) were the most influencing information sources, even if knowledge of vaccinated people was by far more persuasive (AOR: 2.7; 95% CI: 2.2-3.3). Only 12% of participants were acquainted with skin to skin HPV transmission, while 75% believed in a full effectiveness of condom; less than 22% associated HPV with cancer (other than cervical cancer). Efforts to increase awareness are likely to be worth considering that: awareness is the main determinant of vaccine acceptance; only 50% of individuals not interested in receiving vaccine were aware of it; males are much less aware (AOR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.07-0.11). Moreover, this study spotlights some misconceptions around HPV and acknowledges a pivotal role of healthcare workers, family and peer influence.

Disparities in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine initiation and completion based on sexual orientation among women in the United States

OBJECTIVES

We compared HPV vaccine initiation and completion of heterosexual with lesbian and bisexual (LB) women.

METHODS

We aggregated National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2009 to 2016 for 3,017 women aged 18 to 34 y in the United States. HPV vaccine initiation was defined as reported receipt of ≥1 dose of the vaccine and completion as receipt of the three recommended doses. Weighted percentages and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine differences in HPV vaccine initiation and completion between heterosexual and LB women.

RESULTS

Approximately 12% of respondents self-identified as LB women. Overall, a higher percentage of respondents (26%) had initiated the HPV vaccine than completed the three vaccine doses (17%). In the bivariate analysis, LB women had higher initiation ([35% of LB women versus 25% heterosexual]; p = .0012) and completion rates ([24% of LB women versus 17% heterosexual]; p = .0052) than heterosexual women. After adjusting for covariates, compared to heterosexual women, LB women were 60% (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.16-2.19) more likely to initiate and 63% (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.12-2.37) more likely to complete the HPV vaccine.

CONCLUSIONS

Although LB women had higher likelihood of HPV vaccine initiation and completion compared with heterosexual women, their HPV vaccine uptake was well below the Healthy People 2020 target (80%). Understanding differences in the drivers of vaccine uptake in the LB population may inform strategies that would further increase HPV vaccine uptake toward achieving the 80% completion target.

Mining HPV Vaccine Knowledge Structures of Young Adults From Reddit Using Distributional Semantics and Pathfinder Networks

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects adolescents and young adults from 9 high-risk HPV virus types that cause 90% of cervical and anal cancers and 70% of oropharyngeal cancers. This study extends our previous research analyzing online content concerning the HPV vaccination in social media platforms used by young adults, in which we used Pathfinder network scaling and methods of distributional semantics to characterize differences in knowledge organization reflected in consumer- and expert-generated online content. The current study extends this approach to evaluate HPV vaccine perceptions among young adults who populate Reddit, a major social media platform. We derived Pathfinder networks from estimates of semantic relatedness obtained by learning word embeddings from Reddit posts and compared these to networks derived from human expert estimation of the relationship between key concepts. Results revealed that users of Reddit, predominantly comprising young adults in the vaccine catch up age-group 18 through 26 years of age, perceived the HPV vaccine domain from a virus-framed perspective that could impact their lifestyle choices and that their awareness of the HPV vaccine for cancer prevention is also lacking. Further differences in knowledge structures were elucidated, with implications for future health communication initiatives.

Differences in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake by nativity status among men aged 18-34 years

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Only 1 in 11 men had initiated and 1 in 30 men had completed the HPV vaccine series.

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Immigrants from Indian subcontinent had the lowest HPV vaccination rates.

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Foreign-born men who reported US citizenship had higher rates of HPV vaccination rates.

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Foreign-born men had lower odds of having initiated the HPV vaccination compared with US-born men.

Annually, about 16,500 HPV-associated cancers occur in the US among men. Data regarding HPV vaccine uptake among men based on nativity status (i.e., US-versus foreign-born) is limited, yet potentially important for informing interventions. We assessed differences in HPV vaccine uptake by nativity status among men aged 18–34 years in the US. The 2014–2017 National Health Interview Survey was examined for men, aged 18–34 years (n = 14,056). HPV vaccine initiation was defined as receipt of at least one dose of the vaccine and completion as receipt of three doses. Weighted, multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to assess the association between nativity status and HPV vaccine uptake, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare factors. Analyses were performed in July 2018. Overall, 17% of men self-identified as foreign-born, 9.9% of men had initiated the HPV vaccine, and 3.3% had completed the HPV vaccine. Among foreign-born men, Asians had the highest HPV vaccination rates whereas those from Indian subcontinental region had the lowest rates. After accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare factors, compared to US-born men, foreign-born men were 46% (adjusted odds ratio = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.39–0.72) less likely to initiate the HPV vaccine but there was no difference between the two groups in terms of vaccine completion. We found that HPV vaccine uptake among men was very low overall, and foreign-born men had lower initiation compared to US-born men. Public health interventions which improve HPV vaccination need to be developed for all men, irrespective of nativity status.

A "Sense"-ational HPV Vaccination Quality Improvement Project in a Family Medicine Residency Practice

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake for adolescents and young adults in the United States remains far from national goals. Using a multi-component intervention aligned with community-wide efforts, we implemented a quality improvement project to increase HPV vaccinations among 9-26 year-old male and female patients in an urban, low income, minority population family medicine residency practice.

METHODS

The pre-intervention year was November 2, 2014 to October 31, 2015 and the intervention year was November 1, 2015 to October 31, 2016. Based on community input and published literature, the interventions were creative, practice-specific provider-, patient-, and system-level strategies. To compare pre- and post-intervention vaccinations, HPV vaccination data were extracted from an electronic medical record request for age-eligible patients seen in the practice during the intervention year. Chi-square, McNemar's and 2-tailed, 2-sample Z tests were used to test differences in vaccination initiation (≥1 dose) and completion (3 doses) across groups and over time.

RESULTS

Despite high pre-intervention rates (58% and 75%), HPV vaccine initiation significantly increased 12.8 percentage points (PP) for males and 10.6 PP for females from pre- to post-intervention (P < 0.001). HPV vaccine completion also significantly increased 16 PP for males and 10.9 PP for females (P < 0.001). Young adult patients (18-26 years-old) had significant increases in completion rates (9.9 PP; P < 0.001), not observed among adolescents (20 PP; ns).

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent and abundant positive HPV vaccination messaging, low-cost sensory rewards, process change, and community, clinician, and nonclinical staff engagement were associated with higher HPV vaccine initiation and completion, especially among young adults.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Predictors Among U.S. Adults Aged 18 to 45 by Sexual Orientation

Despite increased incidence rates of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers among sexual minorities, their HPV vaccine uptake remains suboptimal. This cross-sectional, correlational study aimed to investigate factors associated with HPV vaccination among a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults by sexual orientation. We used the 2014 to 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for adults aged 18 to 45 years. HPV vaccination initiation was associated with being female and Hispanic, having higher educational attainment, and having ever been tested for HIV, whereas completion was associated with being female and non-Hispanic White and having higher educational attainment. Compared with those who reported identifying as straight, the lesbian or gay respondents were found to have been less likely not to complete the series. Providers should play a crucial part in addressing missed opportunities for HPV vaccination by implementing culturally competent communication strategies to empower sexual minorities to make informed HPV vaccine decisions.

Healthcare provider perspectives on the uptake of the human papillomavirus vaccine among newcomers to Canada: a qualitative study

Human papillomavirus is among the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. Newcomers, defined in Canada as foreign-born individuals who are either immigrants or refugees, but may also include students and undocumented migrants, face numerous barriers to HPV vaccination. This study sought to understand, from the perspective of healthcare providers, barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccination, and recommendations to improve HPV vaccine uptake among newcomers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 healthcare providers between March and April 2018. Data were analyzed at the manifest level using a Qualitative Content Analysis approach. Categories of barriers to vaccination included: access, communication, knowledge, culture, and provider-related factors. Facilitators included targeted health promotion; understanding the relevance of HPV vaccination; trusting the healthcare system; and cultural sensitivity. Two overarching recommendations were to publicly fund the HPV vaccine, and enhance language- and culturally-appropriate health promotion activities. Further research should explore informational desires and needs from the perspective of newcomers to inform strategies to promote equitable HPV vaccine coverage.