In 2020, we conducted five focus groups with MSM living in the Inland Empire, California. Participants discussed (1) their knowledge about and attitudes toward HPV, meningococcal disease, and related vaccines; and (2) factors that would encourage or discourage vaccine uptake. Data were systematically analyzed to identify salient barriers and facilitators to vaccination.
Participants (N = 25) had a median age of 29. Most were Hispanic (68%), self-identified as gay (84%), and had college degrees (64%). Key barriers to vaccination included: (1) limited awareness and knowledge about HPV and meningococcal disease, (2) reliance on mainstream healthcare providers for vaccine information, (3) stigma and reluctance to disclose sexual orientation, (4) uncertainty about health insurance coverage and vaccine costs, and (5) distance and time required to access vaccines. Key facilitators to vaccination were: (1) vaccine confidence, (2) perceived severity of HPV and meningococcal disease, (3) bundling vaccination into routine healthcare, and (4) pharmacies as vaccination sites.
Findings highlight opportunities for HPV and meningococcal vaccine promotion, including targeted education and awareness campaigns for MSM, LGBT inclusivity training for healthcare providers, and structural interventions to improve vaccine accessibility.
方法:在2020年,我们与生活在内陆帝国的MSM进行了五个焦点小组,加州参与者讨论了(1)他们对HPV的知识和态度,脑膜炎球菌病,和相关疫苗;和(2)会鼓励或阻碍疫苗摄取的因素。对数据进行了系统分析,以确定疫苗接种的显著障碍和促进因素。
结果:参与者(N=25)的中位年龄为29岁。大多数是西班牙裔(68%),自我认定为同性恋(84%),拥有大学学位(64%)。疫苗接种的主要障碍包括:(1)对HPV和脑膜炎球菌疾病的认识和知识有限,(2)依赖主流医疗保健提供商获取疫苗信息,(3)污名化和不愿透露性取向,(4)医疗保险范围和疫苗费用的不确定性,(5)获取疫苗所需的距离和时间。疫苗接种的主要促进因素是:(1)疫苗信心,(2)认为HPV和脑膜炎球菌疾病的严重程度,(3)将疫苗接种捆绑到日常医疗保健中,和(4)作为疫苗接种场所的药房。
结论:研究结果突出了HPV和脑膜炎球菌疫苗推广的机会,包括针对MSM的有针对性的教育和宣传活动,针对医疗保健提供者的LGBT包容性培训,和结构性干预措施,以提高疫苗的可及性。