HPV Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Among Northern Plains American Indian Adolescents, Parents, Young Adults, and Health Professionals

Abstract

Native American women in the Northern Plains have a high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and high incidence of cervical disease and cervical cancer. HPV vaccination coverage is shown to be lower among nonwhite populations and disparity populations. We assessed HPV knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs towards HPV and HPV vaccination during a community-based participatory research project among tribal youth, young adults, parents, and health professionals. In 2009, we recruited a total of 73 individuals to participate in four tribal focus groups: tribal health providers, (n=10), Indian Health Service providers (n=7), young adult women ages 19-26 (n=22), girls (14-18) (n=18), and parents (n=16). Of these, 62 (84.93 %) completed a survey, which included 10 healthcare providers, 22 young adults, 14 teens, and 16 parents. We employed a qualitative thematic analysis of focus group transcript data and conducted frequency analysis of survey data, which were both reviewed and triangulated by a Community Advisory Board. Based on the results of this study, the tribal community advisory board identified local tribal settings for interventions to increase HPV vaccination coverage through health education classes and a school-based vaccination clinic. In addition to tribal community-wide education events to increase awareness of HPV disease, the HPV vaccine, provider-specific training was identified as a potential intervention. These community-based focus group findings underscore the importance of locally and cultural tailored educational interventions to further increase HPV knowledge and HPV vaccination among disparate populations like American Indian adolescent and young adult women.

Diverse Families’ Experiences with HPV Vaccine Information Sources: A Community-Based Participatory Approach

“…For those who did not receive consistent or firm recommendations, this led to the perception that the vaccine was optional or less important compared to the other adolescent vaccines. Multiple studies with racial and ethnic minorities have identified a provider recommendation as an important facilitator of decisions to vaccinate youth of diverse backgrounds [8, 29, 40, 41]. …”

A brief educational intervention increases providers' human papillomavirus vaccine knowledge

“…This agrees with a prior study which showed that even providers serving communities at high risk for HPV-related cancers have limited knowledge of HPV epidemiology. 19 This misperception could limit HPV vaccine uptake among Hispanic women who should be vigorously targeted for vaccination due to their increased risk for cervical cancer. Healthcare providers have the power to greatly impact this population as provider recommendation has been shown to be a key determinant of HPV vaccination among Hispanic adolescents with Spanish-speaking parents.…”

Knowledge and Screening of Head and Neck Cancer Among American Indians in South Dakota

“…This is consistent with previous studies in this region with regard to awareness of HPV and its relation to cervical cancer. 22 This suggests that there is a potential role for more public health education regarding HPV in this population.…”