Prophylactic HPV vaccines have reduced HPV morbidities but vaccine hesitancy prevails in many groups globally. The unprecedented European influx of refugees and asylum seekers presents challenges in meeting the objectives of the European Vaccine Action Plan 2015–20201, which urges culturally appropriate vaccination services and information. The disparate socio-cultural values of this influx of immigrants have implications for HPV vaccination programs. The complex factors that contribute to decision making are especially prevalent in immigrant populations where sexual health literacy is low or non-existent.
We report the findings from a study undertaken with East African-Australian communities in Melbourne that has implications for the related diaspora of European refugees. A community-partnership approach with multicultural agencies and a bi-lingual translator through focus group discussion explored the socio-cultural health, ecological and historical determinants contributing to HPV vaccine hesitancy and uptake.
In Melbourne, the East African parent communities had no sexual health knowledge and perceptions of HPV and HPV vaccines. Multiple factors contributed to vaccine hesitancy including disparate sexuality norms. Redevelopment of public HPV information resources that incorporate health culture, social inclusion, and cultural continuity in a common first language enabled community-partnership engagement and empowerment. The increased knowledge of HPV factors among adult participants is expected to lead to intentions of screening in women and health checks in men.
If the current influx of refugees is to experience long-term well-being through their integration into European health and social systems, diverse sexuality norms will need to be reframed. This will require a rethink of current HPV vaccine education and prevention approaches to reduce the current cultural vacuum and insecurities.
1. World Health Organisation. "How to present the European Vaccine Action Plan 2015-2020 (EVAP) (http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/253730/64wd15e_EVAP_140459.pdf (Accessed 27th February 2016)