Effective strategies in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination interventions to increase uptake in rural, low socioeconomic, indigenous and migrant populations: A scoping review

Background

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a key strategy to reduce HPV-related cancers such as cervical cancer. Rural, low socioeconomic status, ethnic minority, Indigenous and migrant populations often experience inequity when accessing HPV vaccination.

Methods

This scoping review searched six databases for intervention studies which measured the uptake of HPV vaccination of rural, low SES, ethnic minority, Indigenous or migrant adolescent-young adult population. Strategies were categorised according to their setting: clinical, school-based, community, or a combination of one or more of these settings.

Results

Effective strategies from 46 studies which increased equity in HPV vaccination uptake included: (1) Information disseminated through handouts, multilingual material, and health care conversations using presumptive language; (2) ‘Prompting’ using a practice-wide coordination to flag patient records, remind patients, and alert them of their appointment for HPV vaccination; (3) Health Care Professional (HCP) training to communicate information effectively about HPV vaccination, and include HCP champions as HPV vaccination advocates; (4) School-based programs, using strategies such as on-site vaccination, student-engagement fetes and partnership with clinics to increase HPV vaccination ‘catch-up’; (5) Family-centred care to motivate HPV vaccination for cancer prevention.

Conclusion

Although interventions demand preparation and coordination to initiate, they can positively influence the uptake of HPV vaccination. There are a wide range of effective strategies to increase equity in HPV vaccination in the rural, low SES, ethnic minority, Indigenous and migrant adolescent-young adult populations. Future evaluation of effective strategies could explore their sustainability and long-term implementation in interventions.