323612
Building Local Capacity to Increase HPV Vaccination among Adolescents in Los Angeles
Marisela Robles, MS,
Office of Community Engagement, Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Katrina Kubicek, PhD,
Division of Research on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Jenny M. Jaque, MD,
Keck School Of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Background: Vaccination against HPV infection is one of the most effective methods for reducing rick for cervical cancer and protecting the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. Los Angeles County (LAC) data show that many male and female adolescents in the County have not been vaccinated or have not completed the three-dose series. This is especially true among vulnerable racial/ethnic groups and those living in poverty. Currently, there is no local HPV specific coalition or other entity dedicated exclusively to improving HPV vaccine uptake in LAC. Objective: Our team will present data on how we engaged partners at the local level to identify needs and address low vaccination rates among adolescents in the greater LAC area. Methods: Through a multidisciplinary consortium of academic, clinical and local health department partners, we conducted key informant interviews, developed a community advisory board (CAB) and conducted an environmental scan to identify existing provider and community-based organizations. Results: The environmental scan resulted in a database of existing organizations and an archive of programs and interventions in LAC. Interviews revealed a need for targeted education for parents, youth and providers to address barriers affecting the low vaccination rates. Discussion: Our next steps include working with our consortium of local partners and the CAB to develop, implement and test an intervention, targeting outreach and education to providers and ethnic/racial, cultural and sexual minority adolescents and parents. Efforts to build local capacity to improve vaccine uptake will ensure protection from HPV-associated cancers among adolescents throughout their lifetime.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related education
Learning Objectives:
Design an environmental scan to engaged partners at the local level, identify needs and address low vaccination rates among adolescents
Keyword(s): Adolescents, Needs Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the project manager on this project. I have 7 yearsâ experience in community-based research. As Community Liaison for the Community Engagement program at the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, I have managed multiple projects to assess community needs.
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.
