Abstract
Background: Racial/ethnic minority and medically underserved populations are at significant risk of the intersection of HIV/AIDS, HPV, and cancer. Little is known about the intersection of these public health issues in Pacific Islander communities.
Purpose: Establishing the ground work for understanding the intersection of these diseases, we assessed HIV and HPV risk and prevention factors among Chamorro and Tongan young adults in Southern California.
Methods: Under guidelines of CBPR, a qualitative study was implemented utilizing community based focus groups with male and female young adults, and parents (n=69); and key informant interviews with medical, mental health, and social service providers, and community leaders from social, youth, and faith-based groups (n=26).
Results: Utilizing grounded theory, common factors impacting HIV-HPV risk and prevention among young adults were identified: 1) religio-cultural taboos limit communication about sexual health between generations and from community leaders; 2) limited knowledge of HIV and particularly HPV engender misperceptions about disease transmission and prevention; 3) sexual abstinence, especially for young women, is promoted by parents and religious leaders; however, 4) the norm of expected abstinence leads to low levels of condom acceptance; and 5) collectivist notions of filial shame associated with HIV-HPV testing and utilization of other sexual health services, constrains prevention.
Discussion: Quantitative exploration of the relationship between factors identified and behavior, as well as research to identify HIV/HPV links to cancer in these communities is needed. Future consideration must include multigenerational, gender appropriate and cultural norms –especially related to religion and the interplay between individualism and collectivism.
Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):B86.
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