HPV vaccine knowledge and acceptability among Peruvian men who have sex with men and transgender women: A pilot, qualitative study

Jerome T Galea; Emmi Monsour; César R Nureña; Magaly M Blas; Brandon Brown

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0172964

HPV vaccine knowledge and acceptability among Peruvian men who have sex with men and transgender women: A pilot, qualitative study

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 28;12(2):e0172964. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172964. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Jerome T Galea^{1

2

3}, Emmi Monsour⁴, César R Nureña⁵, Magaly M Blas⁶, Brandon Brown⁷

Affiliations

¹ Socios En Salud, Lima, Peru.
² Epicentro Salud, Lima, Peru.
³ Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
⁴ Center for Healthy Communities, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America.
⁵ School of Anthropology, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú.
⁶ School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
⁷ Center for Healthy Communities, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America.

Abstract

Purpose: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally and is responsible for a variety of cancers in men and women. An effective HPV vaccine licensed for use in girls and boys has been indicated for-but is not widely implemented in-men who have sex with men (MSM). Limited data are available for transgender women (TW). We explored the social and behavioral aspects related to HPV vaccine uptake and participation in HPV vaccine studies among Peruvian MSM and TW.

Methods: Focus groups and individual in-depth interviews were conducted to obtain the knowledge, thoughts, and opinions from Peruvian MSM and TW regarding HPV vaccination. Data were analyzed using systematic comparative and descriptive content analysis.

Results: Three focus groups and fifteen individual in-depth interviews were conducted among 36 MSM and TW. Participant mean age was 26 years (range 18-40). Though many participants were unfamiliar with HPV vaccination, most expressed positive attitudes. Participants expressed concerns about the potential for stigma when disclosing HPV vaccination.

Conclusion: Peruvian MSM and TW felt that HPV vaccination would be acceptable to themselves and their peers. Nonetheless, vaccine intake may be impeded by potential stigma. Findings from this study may guide HPV vaccine implementation in similar populations.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Hispanic or Latino
Homosexuality, Male / psychology*
Humans
Male
Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control
Papillomavirus Vaccines / therapeutic use*
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Peru
Transgender Persons / psychology*
Young Adult

Substances

Papillomavirus Vaccines

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by a research grant from the Merck Investigator-Initiated Studies Program of Merck & Co Inc. The opinions expressed in this paper are of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Merck & Co Inc. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Magaly Blas and Brandon Brown received a research grant from the Investigator-Initiated Studies Program of Merck & Co., Inc. This does not alter the authors’ adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.