Empowering Active-Duty Service Members to Initiate the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. Active-duty service members are disproportionately affected by HPV, yet this population has very low HPV vaccination rates. Increasing these rates has the potential to prevent HPV-associated cancers. This case study describes a brief and focused educational intervention designed to improve HPV vaccination rates among active-duty service members.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates of Military and Civilian Male Respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System Between 2013 and 2015

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates among men in the USA and to compare vaccination rates among men who had served in the military to those reporting no previous military service.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional analysis using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from the 2013 to 2015 to analyze HPV vaccination rates for vaccine eligible adult men. The BRFSS is a multistage, cross-sectional telephone survey conducted nationally by state health departments. Univariable and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between military service and HPV vaccination status was assessed as well as the number of HPV vaccination doses received.

RESULTS

A total of 5,274 participants were analyzed representing a weighted estimate of 1.5 million HPV vaccine eligible men in the USA. The vaccination rate among veterans was 25.3% (95% confidence interval (CI), 18.8-33.3%) compared to 15.9% (95% CI, 14.3-17.6%) for civilians (p < 0.01). Veterans were more likely to report having received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine compared to civilian men (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 2.7, 95% CI, 1.7%-4.1%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Veteran men are more likely to have received HPV vaccination than similarly aged civilian men. However, for both civilians and veterans, the HPV vaccination coverage remains low when compared to their female counterparts.

Factors Associated with HPV Vaccination among Cambodian American Teenagers

OBJECTIVES

Parents have general influence over their children's health and health behavior. However, given the dearth of specific literature regarding knowledge level and social and cultural factors influencing HPV vaccination behaviors among Cambodian American (CA) parent, it is difficult to develop an effective, evidence-based public health HPV vaccination program. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the HPV vaccine uptakes among CA teenagers and to examine factors influencing HPV vaccine uptakes.

DESIGN AND SAMPLE

A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design and a combination of network and targeted sampling methods were used.

RESULTS

CA mothers (n = 130) completed a health survey through face-to-face interviews in either English or Khmer language. Girls vaccination rates were 29% while that of boys was 16%. Awareness and knowledge of HPV among CA mothers was very low, and many believed that their daughters, who speak English and were educated in the U.S., had more knowledge about health than they did. Logistic regression analysis showed that CA girls had significantly higher odds of vaccination when their mothers possessed a higher level of English reading ability and had greater awareness and knowledge of HPV.

CONCLUSIONS

The strikingly low rates of HPV vaccination among CA girls and boys underscore the need to improve vaccination outreach, education, and uptake. The findings can be used to develop targeted public health HPV vaccination programs for CAs, which will reduce cervical cancer disparities.