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Poster Presentations
PS02 – POSTER VIEWING SESSION – TUESDAY
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
P841 Barriers to HPV vaccination among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in canada: a CIRN study
Free
  1. Ramandip Grewal1,
  2. Anna Yeung1,
  3. Marc Brisson2,
  4. Troy Grennan3,
  5. Alexandra De Pokomandy4,
  6. Joseph Cox4,
  7. Gilles Lambert5,
  8. David Moore6,
  9. François Coutlée7,
  10. Shelley Deeks8,
  11. Sandra Gardner9,
  12. Dane Griffiths10,
  13. Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai11,
  14. Jody Jollimore12,
  15. James Murray13,
  16. Gina Ogilvie14,
  17. Chantal Sauvageau15,
  18. Darrell Tan1,
  19. Barry Adam16,
  20. Heather Armstrong14,
  21. Mark Gaspar9,
  22. Clemon George17,
  23. Daniel Grace18,
  24. Trevor Hart19,
  25. Ann Burchell1
  1. 1St. Michael’s Hospital, Centre For Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Canada
  2. 2Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
  3. 3BC Centre for Disease Control, Clinical Prevention Services, Vancouver, Canada
  4. 4McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  5. 5University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
  6. 6BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada
  7. 7l’Université de Montréal, Microbiologie Médicale et Infectiologie, Montreal, Canada
  8. 8Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada
  9. 9University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
  10. 10Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance, Toronto, Canada
  11. 11St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
  12. 12Community Based Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
  13. 13Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Toronto, Canada
  14. 14University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
  15. 15Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Montreal, Canada
  16. 16University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
  17. 17University of West Indies – Cave Hill, Cave Hill, Barbados
  18. 18University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Canada
  19. 19Ryerson University, Psychology, Toronto, Canada

Abstract

Background Internationally, Canada was one of the first countries to offer free HPV vaccination to young gbMSM. The provinces of British Columbia (BC), Ontario (ON) and Quebec (QC) implemented HPV vaccination programs in 2015–2016 for gbMSM aged 9–26. We explored HPV vaccine initiation and among unvaccinated men, potential barriers to uptake.

Methods Engage is a sexual health study among gbMSM aged 16+ in Vancouver BC, Toronto ON, and Montreal QC, the largest urban centres in each province. Men are recruited via respondent driven sampling (RDS). We estimated the proportion that had initiated HPV vaccination and among unvaccinated men, compared proportions to responses on HPV vaccine knowledge and willingness, healthcare access and sexual orientation disclosure by age (eligible for free vaccination: ≤26 and ineligible for free vaccination: ≥26 years old). Proportions were RDS unadjusted.

Results From 01/2017 to 31/12/2018, 2099 men enrolled (542 Vancouver, 378 Toronto, 1179 Montreal). Their median age was 33 years (IQR 27–46). In Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, 48.6%, 44.1% and 44.2% of men aged ≤26 and 24.9%, 30.3% and 7.1% of men aged ≥26 had 1+ dose of the HPV vaccine, respectively. Among unvaccinated men, more men aged ≥26 versus ≤26 accessed healthcare (family doctor/sexual health/HIV care) (87.2% vs 78.9%, p=0.0008) and disclosed their sexual orientation to their family doctor (86.2% vs 64.4%, p<0.0001). A similar proportion of unvaccinated men from each age group had heard of the HPV vaccine (≥26=67.5% vs ≤26=69.0%, p<0.0529). Among unvaccinated men aware of the HPV vaccine, more men aged ≥26 versus ≤26 were willingness to get vaccinated if the vaccine were free and required disclosure of same-sex activity (80.3% vs 61.5%, p=0.0259).

Conclusion Preliminary analyses indicate that HPV vaccine initiation in this population remains suboptimal. Among unvaccinated gbMSM ≤26, accessing healthcare, not disclosing sexual orientation and willingness to get vaccinated may be barriers to vaccine uptake.

Disclosure No significant relationships.

  • gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men
  • Canada
  • HPV

https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2019-sti.886

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