A collaborative program for educating urban youth about HPV risk and cancer prevention.

Abstract

169 Background: HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease. Exposure to this infection is associated with cancer later in life. Public data regarding HPV vaccination rates and health disparity (as evidenced by low-income, high teen birth and STI rates) were identified. Methods: Based on the supposition that health disparity is associated with low socioeconomic status, a Wisconsin state map provided by the Center for Urban Population Health identified 29 zip codes in the City of Milwaukee, and are broken by low, medium, and high income brackets. An HPV education program, in partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), was developed with a focus on the low income bracket to emphasize infection exposure and the safety and efficacy of the HPV vaccine in cancer prevention. This included education on safe relationships and emphasis on personal health advocacy. Program development was aimed at the health literacy of youth. Collaboration occurred with MPS leadership and their established health curriculum to ensure the HPV program accommodated the academic level of the freshman health classroom. Results: The data is reflective of HPV vaccine series completion rates within the zip codes where the HPV program was presented. Logistic regression was used and a significant rise for HPV completion rates by year (p = 0.0003) and by zip code (p < 0.0001) were observed. Conclusions: As the program evolves, program evaluations and public data continue to be reviewed along with feedback from various stakeholders to maintain the quality and integrity of the program. Additionally, Aurora Health Care has received requests to share this HPV program best practice with other institutions to expand it throughout urban areas of Wisconsin and Illinois.[Table: see text]