From knowledge to a gendered event and trustful ties: HPV vaccine framings of eligible Finnish girls and school nurses

Abstract

In the present study, we examine socio‐cultural and practical aspects of human papillomavirus vaccination (HPVV) through a multi‐sited study of framings. We ask how HPVV is framed in the daily lives of vaccination‐aged Finnish girls and in school nurses’ everyday work. We then mirror these framings against both each other and Finland's official vaccination campaign. Based on analysis of interviews with 24 nurses and 12 girls and the campaign materials, we argue first that the campaign frames vaccination as an individual, knowledge‐based decision reflecting the informed consent principle. Second, however, the vaccination is framed in the everyday lives of eligible girls through gendered social ties and as a gendered and cohort‐specific event pivoting around the needle prick. Third, HPVV is not primarily framed in the school nurses’ work as preparing the girls for the vaccination decision by sharing official information but through trust‐based social relationships with the girls and their parents. We conclude that, as the vaccination is not an issue of individually reflected and knowledge‐based decision‐making for the two interviewed key groups, the official Finnish HPVV campaign and the undergirding informed consent principle drift into problems in their practical implementation.

The needle pricking and two modes of ‘doing good’ in the Swedish school‐based human papillomavirus vaccination programme

“…However, these two bodies of research only briefly mention the event of the needle pricking (e.g., Runngren et al, 2020, p. 5;Virtanen & Salmivaara, 2021, p. 1227. Moreover, the social scientific public health research adopts general ideals such as 'autonomy' to approach the vaccination (Gottvall et al, 2015).…”

“…Sociological research in this regard is limited, and the majority of existing research has analysed contexts of campaigns (Charles, 2014; Lindén, 2016) and policies (Casper & Carpenter, 2008) through a lens of governmentality (Mishra & Graham, 2012). Nevertheless, the literature suggests that school nurses frame HPV vaccination as something they need to fit within their already busy workdays (Virtanen & Salmivaara, 2021). It has also been emphasised that, in contrast to official campaigns, girls do not experience HPV vaccination as a matter of an individual knowledge‐based decision (Virtanen & Salmivaara, 2021).…”

“…Nevertheless, the literature suggests that school nurses frame HPV vaccination as something they need to fit within their already busy workdays (Virtanen & Salmivaara, 2021). It has also been emphasised that, in contrast to official campaigns, girls do not experience HPV vaccination as a matter of an individual knowledge‐based decision (Virtanen & Salmivaara, 2021). Instead, it is experienced as being centred around the needle prick, which is an event that can generate fear and anxiety (Mishra & Graham, 2012).…”

“…This article contributes to existing social scientific research on HPV vaccination by zooming in on the mundane work of vaccinating children against HPV in schools . We relate to the abovementioned literature on HPV vaccination to discuss decision‐making (Gottvall et al., 2015) and needle anxiety/fear (Mishra & Graham, 2012; Rockliffe et al., 2020; Virtanen & Salmivaara, 2021), but we also attend to how school nurses adjust and adapt their mundane work of vaccination in attempts to ‘care well’ for concerned children. By situating our article in science and technology studies (STS) and drawing on interviews with school nurses in Sweden, we show how school nurses’ work includes implicit ideals of ‘good care’ (Pols, 2015).…”

Taloustieteen performatiivisuudesta moniperformatiivisuuteen

“…Jatkamme kuitenkin parhaillaan tutkimustamme pureutumalla vaikuttavuuden jäsentymiseen monipaikkaisen tutkimustavan mukaisesti (ks. Silvast & Virtanen 2019, Virtanen 2019, Virtanen & Silvast 2020, Virtanen & Salmivaara 2021) kahdessa käynnissä olevassa VI-projektissa, joista toisessa tavoitellaan yhteiskuntapoliittista, toisessa ekologista vaikuttavuutta.…”