142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

296896
Sources of HPV Information and Message Barriers Reported among American Indian College Students

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Felicia Schanche Hodge, DrPH , School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Tracy Line Itty, MPH , Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
The purpose of this study was to explore communication pathways regarding the sources and influences of HPV information among American Indian (AI) college students. Eight focus groups with 53 AI students were conducted at four Southwest universities. Questions probed HPV knowledge and attitudes, health beliefs, cultural influences, message barriers, and communication pathways. Data was analyzed using Grounded Theory methods. Schools and television commercials were common information sources, as well as friends and siblings; less frequently mentioned were parents and the tribal community. Preferred communication pathways were siblings, relatives and physicians. Barriers to communication included lack of information sources, stigma, traditional viewpoints limiting discussions related to sexuality, and under-representation of AIs in health media. Sources of HPV information and preferences for communication pathways influences, and perceived receptiveness of various channels were identified. Message barriers must be addressed to reduce HPV-related morbidity and mortality. Education and health messages must take into account AI cultural perspectives, as well as informational and communication preferences. Strategies to reduce information/communication gaps include improving inter-family communication and facilitating school-based, clinic-based and tribal community health events about protecting sexual and reproductive health.

Learning Areas:

Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify sources of HPV Information and message barriers among American Indian students. Discuss the Human Papillomavirus and communication/messaging in Indian communities.

Keyword(s): Native Americans, STDs/STI

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the PI of multiple federally funded grants focusing on American Indian health care needs and conducted research for 40 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.