Abstract D014: Assessing an intervention to increase cervical cancer knowledge and HPV vaccination knowledge among predominantly African American communities in South Carolina

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is linked to cervical cancer incidence. The HPV vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of HPV infection and subsequent cervical cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, African Americans (AA) show lower uptake of the HPV vaccine than other groups. Underuse of the HPV vaccine has been linked to lack of knowledge of its effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate an educational intervention to improve cervical cancer knowledge and HPV vaccine knowledge among predominantly AA communities in South Carolina (SC). METHODS: The study was conducted in a convenience sample of residents of five SC counties with high racial disparities in cervical cancer mortality rates that were recruited by community partners. The intervention consisted of a 4.5-hour educational session with 8 different components including a 30-minute cervical cancer/HPV vaccination knowledge component. Pre-and post- intervention surveys were administered. MEASURES: A 7-item investigator-developed instrument was used to evaluate pre-/post-intervention changes in cervical cancer knowledge and HPV vaccination knowledge. The items were based on the investigators’ review of the contemporary literature on the topics of cervical cancer, HPV infection, and the HPV vaccine. RESULTS: The first sample consisted of 64 participants from last year and this year participants consisted of 28 which make 92 in all (99% AA). Most of the participants who reported age were 50+ years. Among those who reported gender, 90% were female. Among those who reported income, 80% had an annual household income >$40,000. Seventy-two percent of the participants who reported their educational level had received at least some college training. Conclusions: Providing cervical cancer and HPV vaccination information leads to increasing knowledge related to cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine. In the future study, the investigators will evaluate changes in the pre-/post-intervention. HPV vaccination uptake rates in the five counties where the intervention was conducted. Citation Format: Marvella E Ford, Kimberly Cannady, NiAsia Hazelton, Kendrea D Knight, Claudia Lawton, Angela M Malek, Judith D Salley. Assessing an intervention to increase cervical cancer knowledge and HPV vaccination knowledge among predominantly African American communities in South Carolina [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr D014.