Developing a Mobile Family-Based HPV Screening and Prevention Intervention in Little Haiti, Miami

Issues:  Cervical cancer incidence is nearly 4 times higher in women living in Little Haiti than in the general U.S. population.  As part of a CBPR initiative to address this disparity, we developed a mobile health clinic intervention to screen women for HPV via a self-sampling method while simultaneously vaccinating their children for HPV. 

Description:  We conceptualized this intervention approach based on 1) the needs expressed by Little Haiti community stakeholders (CSs) for cervical cancer prevention that is easily accessible 2) prior success with HPV self-sampling intervention in Little Haiti 3) social ecological theory, which informed our approach at both the individual and family levels.  We then discussed this approach with community health workers (CHWs) and CSs, in order to gain perspective regarding the feasibility and acceptability of our proposed intervention.  CHWs then discussed the intervention with community members in order to gauge interest and further inform intervention development.

Lessons Learned:  Overall, community members, CSs, and CHWs believed that the intervention would be feasible within the community.  However, barriers to participation were illuminated, including religious opposition to HPV vaccination, the belief that HPV vaccination encourages premarital sex, and lack of education regarding the link between HPV and cervical cancer.

Recommendations:  Based on this feedback, we modified the intervention to include education about HPV and cervical cancer, as well as culturally-tailored videos which address Haitian sociocultural issues surrounding cervical cancer prevention.  In addition, we are partnering with community churches to provide venues for and assist with the advertising of the intervention.