scholarly journals HPV vaccination of girls in the German model region Saarland: Insurance data-based analysis and identification of starting points for improving vaccination rates

Author(s):  
Anna Marthaler ◽  
Barbara Berko-Goettel ◽  
Juergen Rissland ◽  
Jakob Schoepe ◽  
Emeline Taurian ◽  
...  

In Germany, the incidence of cervical cancer, a disease caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV), is higher than in neighboring European countries. HPV vaccination has been recommended for girls since 2007. However, it continues to be significantly less well received than other childhood vaccines, so its potential for cancer prevention is not fully realized. To find new starting points for improving vaccination rates, we analyzed pseudonymized routine billing data from statutory health insurers in the PRAEZIS study in the federal state Saarland serving as a model region. We show that lowering the HPV vaccination age to 9 years led to more completed HPV vaccinations already in 2015. Since then, HPV vaccination rates and the proportion of 9- to 11-year-old girls among HPV-vaccinated females have steadily increased. However, HPV vaccination rates among 15-year-old girls in Saarland remained well below 50% in 2019. Pediatricians vaccinated the most girls overall, with a particularly high proportion at the recommended vaccination age of 9-14 years, while gynecologists provided more HPV catch-up vaccinations among 15-17-year-old girls, and general practitioners compensated for HPV vaccination in Saarland communities with fewer pediatricians or gynecologists. We also provide evidence for a significant association between attendance at the U11 or J1 medical check-ups and HPV vaccination. In particular, participation in HPV vaccination is high on the day of U11. However, obstacles are that U11 is currently not funded by all statutory health insurers and there is a lack of invitation procedures for both U11 and J1, resulting in significantly lower participation rates than for the earlier U8 or U9 screenings, which are conducted exclusively with invitations and reminders. Based on our data, we propose to restructure U11 and J1 screening in Germany, with mandatory funding for U11 and organized invitations for HPV vaccination at U11 or J1 for both boys and girls.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Goldfarb ◽  
Joseph D. Comber

AbstractHuman papillomaviruses are major causative agents of multiple cancers including cervical, penial, and oropharyngeal cancers. Almost all sexually active individuals are exposed to HPV in their lifetime and although not all HPV subtypes are capable of causing cancers, several high-risk subtypes widely circulate. Several HPV vaccines have been developed and successfully utilized to limit the spread of these viruses and reduce rates of associated cancers. Despite their success, HPV vaccination rates remain low. Studies estimate the highest prevalence of HPV in the United States is among college students. This makes college students an ideal target for interventions that promote HPV vaccination and prevention. To this end, we were interested in investigating the relationship between low HPV vaccine uptake and attitudes and awareness about HPV vaccination among college aged students. We designed a survey to assess knowledge and perception of HPV and HPV vaccination that could help pinpoint correlations between this knowledge and vaccination status. We find that more robust education focusing on the benefits of HPV vaccination could be utilized to improve vaccination rates.


2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-195
Author(s):  
Vladislav I. Krasnopolsky ◽  
Nina V. Zarochentseva ◽  
Ksenia V. Krasnopolskaya ◽  
Yulia N. Bashankaeva ◽  
Varvara S. Kuzmicheva

The purpose of the review a synthesis of research data on the role of human papillomavirus infection in the reproductive health of women and men. Key Points. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted viruses worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, HPV is the main cause of the development of HPV-associated diseases among both women and men. Viruses are subdivided into HPV with low carcinogenic risk, which cause benign warts, and HPV with high carcinogenic risk, which cause cancer. Different types of human papillomaviruses depending on their characteristic tropism, are divided into skin and mucous types. Viral infection in men leads to a decrease in the quality of sperm (for example, asthenozoospermia) due to apoptosis in sperm cells and due to the development of antisperm immunity. A negative viral effect on the fertility of women is manifested in an increase in the frequency of spontaneous miscarriages and a premature rupture of the amniotic membranes during pregnancy. There is evidence that HPV decreases the number of trophoblastic cells and abnormal trophoblastic-endometrial adhesion is also observed. In trophoblastic cells transfected with high-risk HPV, the level of apoptosis increases. HPV vaccination is safe, and the results show not only protection against HPV-associated diseases in women and men, but also a reduction of gestational complications, reduced preterm birth rates and the protection of newborns from infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 859-870
Author(s):  
Coralia Vázquez-Otero ◽  
Ellen M. Daley ◽  
Cheryl A. Vamos ◽  
Nancy Romero-Daza ◽  
Jason Beckstead ◽  
...  

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections can cause cancer (e.g., cervical/vaginal/penile/anal/oropharyngeal). The HPV vaccine prevents cancer, yet U.S. vaccination rates remain low. We explored sociopolitical factors in the adoption of Puerto Rico’s HPV vaccine school-entry requirement. Multiple streams framework explains how the intersection of problems, policy, and politics streams influence policy adoption. Policy entrepreneurs work on joining these streams. Interviews ( n = 20) were conducted with stakeholders (e.g., physicians/researchers/nonprofit organizations’ leaders). Data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis. High incidence of HPV and HPV-related cancers in Puerto Rico were indicators of problems. Focusing events included Rhaiza’s case and the HPV-Advisory Panel Report. During summer 2017, a policy window opened; the Department of Health (DOH) adopted the requirement in summer 2018. Stakeholders discussed policy initiatives. Political turnover positively influenced the process. Policy entrepreneurs created an extended period of intersection resulting in the adoption of the requirement. Findings can inform policy initiatives to improve HPV vaccination rates and reduce HPV-related cancers.


Author(s):  
Timo Schmitz ◽  
Christa Meisinger ◽  
Inge Kirchberger ◽  
Christian Thilo ◽  
Ute Amann ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care, and to identify underlying stressors in the German model region for complete AMI registration. The analysis was based on data from the population-based KORA Myocardial Infarction Registry located in the region of Augsburg, Germany. All cases of AMI (n = 210) admitted to one of four hospitals in the city of Augsburg or the county of Augsburg from February 10th, 2020, to May 19, 2020, were included. Patients were divided into three groups, namely pre-lockdown, strict lockdown, and attenuated lockdown period. An additional survey was conducted asking the patients for stress and fears in the 4 weeks prior to their AMI. The AMI rate declined by 44% in the strict lockdown period; in the attenuated lockdown period the rate was 17% lower compared to the pre-lockdown period. The downward trend in AMI rates during lockdown was seen in STEMI and NSTEMI patients, and independent of sex and age. The door-to-device time decreased by 70–80% in the lockdown-periods. In the time prior to the infarction, patients felt stressed mainly due to fear of infection with Sars-CoV-2 and less because of the restrictions and consequences of the lockdown. A strict lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic had a marked impact on AMI care even in a non-hot-spot region with relatively few cases of COVID-19. Fear of infection with the virus is presumably the main reason for the drop in hospitalizations due to AMI.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Garr Whitaker ◽  
Nina Sperber ◽  
Michael Baumgartner ◽  
Alrik Thiem ◽  
Deborah Cragun ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Implementation of multifaceted interventions typically involves many diverse elements working together in interrelated ways, including intervention components, implementation strategies, and features of local context. Given this real-world complexity, implementation researchers may be interested in a new mathematical, cross-case method called Coincidence Analysis (CNA) that has been designed explicitly to support causal inference, answer research questions about combinations of conditions that are minimally necessary or sufficient for an outcome, and identify the possible presence of multiple causal paths to an outcome. CNA can be applied as a standalone method or in conjunction with other approaches and can reveal new empirical findings related to implementation that might otherwise have gone undetected. Methods We applied CNA to a publicly available dataset from Sweden with county-level data on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaigns and vaccination uptake in 2012 and 2014 and then compared CNA results to the published regression findings. Results The original regression analysis found vaccination uptake was positively associated only with the availability of vaccines in schools. CNA produced different findings and uncovered an additional solution path: high vaccination rates were achieved by either (1) offering the vaccine in all schools or (2) a combination of offering the vaccine in some schools and media coverage. Conclusions CNA offers a new comparative approach for researchers seeking to understand how implementation conditions work together and link to outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 548-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dudith Pierre-Victor ◽  
Mary Jo Trepka ◽  
Timothy F. Page ◽  
Tan Li ◽  
Dionne P. Stephens ◽  
...  

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends routine human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization for 11- to 12-year-old adolescents. In 2008, Louisiana required the school boards to distribute HPV vaccine information to parents or guardian of students in Grades 6 to 12. This article investigates the impact of this policy on HPV vaccination among 13- to 17-year-old female adolescents using National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) data. Drawing on the data from the 2008 to 2012 NIS-Teen, we compared the difference in proportions of females who have been vaccinated before and after the policy. Using difference-indifference estimation, we explored the change in vaccination rates before and after the policy implementation in Louisiana compared with Alabama and Mississippi, two states that did not have such a policy in place. The difference-in-differences estimates for HPV vaccination were not significant. Physician recommendation for HPV vaccination was significantly associated with vaccination among females in Louisiana and Alabama (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 7.74; 95% confidence interval [CI; 5.22, 11.5]), and for those in Louisiana and Mississippi (aOR = 7.05; 95% CI [4.6, 10.5]). Compared to the proportion of female adolescents who had received physician recommendation in Alabama or Mississippi, the proportion in Louisiana did not increase significantly in the postpolicy period. HPV vaccination rates did not increase significantly in Louisiana compared to Alabama or Mississippi following the implementation of the policy. Despite Louisiana’s policy, physician recommendation remains the key determinant of HPV vaccination. HPV vaccine awareness does not necessarily result in HPV vaccination.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Vidourek ◽  
Keith King ◽  
Brittany Rosen ◽  
Sara Fehr

Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. The HPV vaccination is an effective method of preventing cervical cancer and genital warts. The present study examined females’ perceptions of male HPV vaccination. Methods: Participants were females (N = 306) from one Midwestern university. Results: Results indicated significant differences in perceived benefits to male HPV vaccination students’ based on grade and knowing a male/female that had the vaccine. No significant differences in perceived barriers were found in the study. Conclusions: These findings should be considered when developing programs aimed at educating students on the male HPV vaccine. The role of females in increasing male HPV vaccination rates should be considered.


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