Sexual health knowledge of male and female Latino immigrants

Preferred HPV and HPV Vaccine Learning Methods to Guide Future HPV Prevention Interventions Among Rural Hispanics

PURPOSE

HPV vaccination among United States's rural Hispanic youth is suboptimal to the Healthy People 2030 goal. Rural Hispanic parents' HPV vaccine (HPVV) perceptions have influenced these low rates. Furthermore, few effective interventions for increasing HPV vaccination among rural Hispanic populations exist. This study aimed to determine rural Hispanic parent's preferred HPV and HPVV learning methods to guide future HPV prevention interventions.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A descriptive qualitative design was used. A total of 23 rural Hispanic parents from South Florida participated in four focus groups. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the transcripts.

RESULTS

Three overcharging themes were identified: 1) Learning method preferences for parents, 2) Learning method preferences for youth, and 3) Learning method preferences for families. Sub-themes included participants' preferences on their interest for an intervention, target audiences, teaching methods, availability of community members, intervention facilitators, and content.

CONCLUSIONS

Addressing HPV vaccination by developing culturally tailored programs for rural Hispanic parents is urgently needed to prevent HPV and HPV-related cancers among this disproportionately affected population. Findings highlight essential elements that should be considered when designing an intervention for increasing HPV vaccination among Hispanics in rural settings.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Pediatric nurses must offer culturally appropriate HPVV education and literature and proactively recommend the HPVV at every opportunity. Pediatric nurses can administer the HPVV at schools and community health fairs while clinics can play educational clips in waiting and examination rooms.

Salient factors among Hispanic parents in South Florida rural communities for vaccinating their children against human papillomavirus

PURPOSE

Few studies have tried to understand the factors related to HPV vaccination among Hispanics living in rural communities in the United States (US). Nationally, HPV vaccination among Hispanics is suboptimal (26.1%) compared to the HealthyPeople 2020 goal of 80% and even more suboptimal in rural communties. This study aimed to determine the salient factors among Hispanic parents for vaccinating their children against HPV and for designing a future HPV prevention intervention for Hispanics.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A descriptive qualitative design was used. Saturation was reached after conducting four focus groups with 23 Hispanic parents from rural communities in South Florida. Directed content analysis using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs was used to analyze the transcripts.

RESULTS

All TPB constructs were identified as salient factors for HPV vaccination including background factors, attitudes towards the behavior, perceived norms, perceived behavioral control, actual control, intention, and behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Addressing HPV vaccination by developing educational programs based on the TPB and tailored to meet the needs of Hispanic parents is urgently needed to prevent HPV among Hispanics in rural US communities. This approach can also serve as a directive to target HPV vaccination among Hispanics in other rural areas in the US.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Pediatric nurses must proactively promote and recommend the HPV vaccine (HPVV), educate parents on having sex-related discussions with their children, include children in the HPVV education and decision, bundle the HPVV with other child vaccines, and utilize reminder systems to ensure completion of the vaccine series.

"I Don't Like Being Stereotyped, I Decided I Was Never Going Back to the Doctor": Sexual Healthcare Access Among Young Latina Women in Alabama

Young Latina women (YLW) in the US and in Alabama are disproportionately affected by sexual health disparities. Our community based participatory research (CBPR) study's purpose was to examine YLW's perceptions and experiences of sexual healthcare access (SHCA) toward developing community-driven, multilevel intervention strategies. We conducted 20 semi-structured qualitative interviews with YLW between 15 and 19 years old and who had been in the US for 5 or more years. We content-analyzed the data guided by the Socioecological Model of Sexual Health (SEMSH). We began analyses by coding independently, built consensus on the codes, then finished coding transcripts independently. Sixty-five percent of participants were US-born and 60% had health insurance. Participants identified barriers/facilitators to SHCA including discrimination in clinical settings and embarrassment/stigma about SHCA. Our study is the first in AL to use CBPR to work with YLW. Interventions should consider the multi-level and intersectional nature of SHCA challenges.

Sexual Health and Language Dominance Among Hispanic/Latino Women and Men: Analysis of a Nationally Representative Sample

This study assessed the prevalence of sexual behaviors among a nationally representative sample of Latino men and women in the United States (US) (N = 432) including Spanish language data collection. Prior studies of sexual health among US Latinos have consisted of convenience samples, and focused mainly on assessing risk behaviors. We consider a broader range of sexual behaviors, subjective sexual experiences (e.g. pleasure and arousal), and STI testing behaviors. Analyses by language dominance and gender indicate a higher variability in sexual behaviors for English-dominant participants and a link between overall STI testing to regular medical examinations, especially women. Higher rates of pleasure, orgasms and arousal was reported by Spanish-dominant men and women, relative to the English-dominant group. Results represent a nuanced examination of internal differentiation among US Latinos and provides applicable data for reducing sexual health disparities in this population.

Determinants of Obesity in Two Urban Communities: Perceptions and Community-Driven Solutions

Objective

In the search of solutions to the rising rates of obesity, community perspectives are important because they highlight areas of need and help determine the level of community support for potential interventions. This study aimed to identify community perceptions of factors associated with obesity in two urban municipalities - one racially mixed and one predominantly African American - and to explore community-driven solutions to the problem of obesity.

Methods

The study used Photovoice methodology to understand what community members perceived as obesity-promoting factors in their residential environments.

Results

A total of 96 photographs of factors relevant to obesity were discussed. Most commonly depicted were restaurants, grocery stores, fast food, and fitness centers. In 10 race-stratified focus groups, participants made 592 comments on 12 themes, the most common being restaurants, physical activity, food stores, and proposed solutions. The top three themes - restaurants, physical activity, and food stores - accounted for 58% of all barriers to healthy weight. Proposed solutions ranged from personal efforts and peer support, to educating adults and children, to community action.

Conclusions

Interventions addressing the immediate food and physical activity environment - restaurants, grocery stores, and resources for physical activity - may have high likelihood of success as they align with community needs and understanding of priorities. Health education and promotion programs that increase food-related knowledge and skills are also needed and likely to receive strong community support.

Examining HPV- and HPV vaccine-related cognitions and acceptability among US-born and immigrant hispanics and US-born and immigrant non-Hispanic Blacks: a preliminary catchment area study

PURPOSE

Disparities in HPV vaccination exist. Therefore, we investigated the distinction and disparities in HPV- and HPV vaccine-related cognitions and acceptability among US-born African Americans (AA) and Black immigrants, and between US-born Latinas and Latina immigrants.

METHODS

Secondary data analyses were conducted with 383 female adults divided into non-Hispanic Blacks-(1) AA born in the US (n = 129) and (2) Black immigrants (n = 53), and Hispanics-(3) Latinas born in the US (n = 57) and (4) Latina immigrants (n = 144). HPV-related cognitions are assessed by measuring HPV-related knowledge and HPV vaccine-related awareness, beliefs, accessibility, and acceptability.

RESULTS

Black and Latina immigrants were less likely to know where they can get/refer for HPV vaccine (p = .007) than their US-born counterparts. Latina immigrants were less likely to have heard of HPV vaccine (p = .033), know where they can get more information about HPV vaccine (p = .045), and know where they can get/refer for HPV vaccine (p = .001) than US-born Latinas. Both immigrant groups (Black: p = .046; Latina: p = .044) were more likely to report cost concerns than their counterparts. US-born AA were the least likely to endorse HPV vaccine safety (31.0%) and efficacy (39.7%), whereas US-born Latinas endorsed efficacy (63.2%) but less safety (44.6%). Overall, vaccine acceptability was low across all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Group disparities in HPV vaccine cognitions emerged, but they all had notable HPV vaccine acceptability (safety and efficacy) barriers. HPV vaccine safety and efficacy were highly unfavorable in US-born AA. The HPV vaccine safety concerns are demonstrated with only 31-54% reporting that the "HPV vaccine is safe"-potentially increasing their risk of HPV vaccine negation. With regards to HPV vaccine efficacy, only 40-63% of this study population endorsed HPV vaccine efficacy. Additionally, immigrants reported greater HPV vaccine cost barriers and healthcare access concerns-increasing their risk for HPV vaccine naiveté. Therefore, our findings on HPV vaccine cognitions and acceptability can inform targeted strategies to increase vaccination among US and immigrant Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks who are at elevated risk for HPV-related cancers.

Attitudes about partner communication regarding contraceptive use among hispanic male college students

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine cultural factors that influence Hispanic male college students' intention to communicate with partners about contraception use.

PARTICIPANTS

A sample of 239 self-identified Hispanic participants enrolled in at least 1 college course participated in this study in the spring 2014 semester.

METHODS

Students completed a 47-item paper survey. Data were analyzed with multiple regression and descriptive methods.

RESULTS

Participants with more siblings were more likely to intend to communicate with partners about contraception use than those with fewer siblings. Participants who received contraceptive information exclusively from fathers exhibited a more favorable attitude toward partner communication. Mother's education level was positively correlated with participants' contraceptive knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS

These results emphasize the importance of support from family members to this sample's intentions to communicate with partners about contraceptive use. Parental involvement and male responsibility, in regards to contraceptive use, should be integrated into Hispanic-focused sexual health improvement efforts.