This study investigated racial/ethnic differences in pregnant and postpartum women's intentions to receive the COVID-19 vaccination (maternal COVID-19 vaccination intent) and intentions to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 (child COVID-19 vaccination intent) during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-June 2020). This study also assessed Health Belief Model constructs to examine their influence on maternal and child COVID-19 vaccination intent by race/ethnicity. This study includes 489 US pregnant and postpartum women (18-49 years) recruited via Prolific Academic to complete a 55-item cross-sectional online survey. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between race/ethnicity, maternal COVID-19 vaccination intent, and child COVID-19 vaccination intent. Among pregnant women, the odds of maternal COVID-19 vaccination intent (aOR = 2.20, 95% CI: .862, 5.61) and child COVID-19 vaccination intent (aOR = .194, 95% CI: .066, .565) among NH Black women were statistically significantly lower than that of NH White women after adjustment for demographic, health, and health belief model variables. Among postpartum women, although some racial differences in maternal or child COVID-19 vaccination intent were observed, these differences were not statistically significant in unadjusted and adjusted models. The findings have implications for future research and interventions which should adopt a racial health equity lens and identify strategies grounded in institutional trustworthiness and systems perspectives to address racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccination intent among pregnant and postpartum women during novel pandemics.

Objectives: This study examined the factors associated with COVID-19 knowledge, perceptions of COVID-19 messaging related to the perinatal population, and examined the association between COVID-19 knowledge and adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors among pregnant and postpartum women during the first wave of the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in the United States. Methods: This was a cross-sectional online survey. A convenience sample of pregnant and postpartum women (18-49) were recruited from across the United States between April and June 2020—during the first wave of the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Of the 584 participants, 22.8% correctly answered all COVID-19 knowledge questions and 85.8% correctly identified the primary COVID-19 symptoms. Participants with at least one chronic health condition (aOR=0.60, 95% CI=0.39, 0.94) and who were unmarried (aOR=, 95% CI=0.43, 0.93) had a lower odds of correctly answering COVID-19 knowledge questions. Sixty-two percent of participants reported COVID-19 messaging was consistent and 43.3% of participants reported being able to find enough COVID-19 information or resources for pregnant or postpartum women. Participants had high levels of adherence to preventive behaviors. Participants who avoided hosting small gatherings during stay-at-home orders were two time as likely to correctly answer COVID-19 knowledge questions (aOR=, (95% CI=1.15,3.66). Discussion: The findings underline the importance of prioritizing tailored educational and care needs among pregnant and postpartum people as early as possible during a global health emergency.

Describe differences in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) screening among a Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare elderly population by ethnicity, place of birth, and gastric cancer (GC)-related conditions, as chronic infection with H. pylori is the strongest risk factor for distal GC. Methods: We used the National Cancer Institute's population-based SEER-Medicare cancer database for GC (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010). We extracted demographic, location and disease staging information from the SEER data file, Patient Entitlement and Diagnosis Summary File. We obtained information on frequencies of various GC-related conditions (e.g., peptic ulcer, gastric ulcer, gastritis) and screening (H. pylori testing and endoscopy) from inpatient hospital and physician/outpatient services claims. Results: Data from 34,730 subjects were analyzed. The majority of Asian American/Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), 65.1%, were foreign-born, while majority of Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), Hispanics and Blacks were US-born (88.7%, 51.3%, and 96.9%, respectively). NHWs were oldest at diagnosis (74.7 y.); Hispanic and Black cases were the youngest (72.4 and 72.9 y., respectively). For NHWs, the most frequently diagnosed GC site was the cardia (36.1%), while for AAPIs, Hispanics and Blacks, the most diagnosed sites were non-cardia (>80%, P < 0.001). Over 55% of NHW, Hispanic and Black cases were diagnosed at regional or distant stage, while 55% of AAPIs were diagnosed at local or regional stage. Over 57% of all cases had a history of GC-related conditions (AAPIs were highest at 64.1%). However, only 11.2% of total cases showed evidence of H. pylori testing. H. pylori testing was more frequent for foreign-born than US-born (2-fold increase in proportions) and AAPIs exhibited the highest proportion of H. pylori testing (22.6% among those with a GC-related condition). Conclusions: Screening for H. pylori was low for all GC cases, despite race/ethnic groups exhibiting conditions for which H. pylori testing is recommended. AAPI GC cases had the highest frequency of H. pylori testing with tumors staged locally or regionally; increased testing could lead to earlier stage of tumor at diagnosis. Future studies should investigate why screening rates are low in patients with GC-related conditions.

Background: A high priority area identified by the President's Cancer Panel is increasing the uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. One group at highest risk of HPV-related cancers is a hard to reach, underserved, and marginalized population – indigent women who use sex for drug money. Illicit drug users are characteristically at high risk for acquiring HPV due to risky sexual behaviors and a greater likelihood of exposure to social networks with high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. International studies suggest these populations may have a different HPV profile. In one of the largest studies of female sex workers, cervical lesions were commonly negative for HPV 16/18, suggesting a role for other high risk HPV (hr-HPV) types or multiple co-infections. Yet there is little known about the HPV profile of street sex workers in the United States. Building on a non-traditional partnership with law enforcement and over 36 community organizations (the Dallas Prostitute Diversion Initiative, Texas), we are providing cancer prevention screening services with HPV co-testing targeting those women diverted to substance abuse treatment centers. We report here on the prevalence of HPV serotypes across cervical and anal sites and across age groups that could inform future HPV vaccination efforts in this vulnerable population. Methods: We partnered with AIDS Arms Clinic to create a point of access for cancer screenings among women in substance abuse treatment at Nexus Recovery, the largest female-only substance abuse recovery center in North Texas. Screenings provided include cervical and anal PAP screens with HPV co-testing (16, 18, or other hr-HPV). Other high risk types included 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, or 68 and were reported in aggregate. Also included were screenings for breast, hepatitis, and HIV/sexually transmitted infections. A follow-up clinic visit was provided 7 days from the initial screen as a second opportunity to educate, explain screen findings, and navigate positives to diagnostic care. This prevention services project is ongoing through August 2016 with the goal to screen 1220 women. Results: A total of 538 women were screened for cervical and anal HPV. The average age was 33 years, 33% were non-white, and over 80% were smokers without health insurance. One-quarter reported 50+ lifetime sex partners. Twenty-nine percent were cervical hr-HPV positive, with 87% classified as other hr-HPV serotype and 13% as HPV 16/18+. Similarly, 32% of women were positive for anal hr-HPV, with the majority being other hr-HPV (88.4%). Unexpected was the bimodal age distribution of HPV prevalence, peaking at 22 years and 48 years. Conclusion: The HPV serotypes observed in this study provide baseline HPV prevalence rates for monitoring future HPV vaccination efforts in this and similar underserved populations. This is significant since one of the fastest growing segments of the criminal population are women offenders serving time on probation for low level offenses related to drug activity and prostitution. HPV vaccination programs in this target population may need to be broadened to include mid-adult women and other serotypes in addition to HPV 16/18. Citation Format: Martha J. Felini, Oluwatosin Igenoza, Saritha Bangara, Kelechi Ukpaka, Opeyemi Jegede, Shuchika Gupta, Gene W. Voskuhl, Timothy Kremer, Ralph Anderson, Raquel Qualls-Hampton. Cervical and anal HPV serotype-specific prevalence among high-risk indigent women in substance abuse recovery. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B69.