Page 80 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 80
rej Cör
reasons remains an understudied area. Möller, Kristiansen, and Norredam
(2018) found that refugee girls had significantly lower HPV immunization
uptake compared with Danish-born girls in the ordinary immunization pro-
gram. They also identified that region of origin, duration of residence, and in-
come were predictors of HPV vaccination uptake among refugee girls. Unfor-
tunately, those factors that corelate with low screening participation, such as
low education, low income, and minority status, also correlate with low HPV
vaccination rates (Becket, 2016). A study in the Netherlands has drawn atten-
tion to the cultural differences that can act as a barrier to HPV vaccination for
immigrants and refugees in Western countries (Salad, Verdonk, de Boer, &
Abma, 2015). Immigrant parents’ concerns related to lack of information with
respect to vaccine efficacy and safety, fear that vaccine was experimentation
on their daughter, cost, long term side effect, and a belief that vaccination
may increase early sexual behaviour have been implicated in the lack of vac-
cination acceptance. Cultural attitude and the fear of shame and stigma also
inhibited vaccination uptake (Salad et al., 2015). The decision-making process
of women of this population generally relies upon social connections and
support of cultural peers. Greater efforts are needed to increase knowledge
about HPV among immigrant and refugee parents and support for physicians
to discuss and offer vaccination to this underserved population.
Conclusions
With vaccination against HPV and efficient screening program to detect pre-
cancerous cervical lesions, we believe that Slovenia could be free of cervical
cancer within 20 years. The high prevalence of HPV infections and cervical
cancer risk among immigrant women demands for an urgent implementa-
tion of preventive strategies to increase screening and vaccine coverage. It
is imperative that we understand the current state of screening and vacci-
nation in this population, and the cultural and systemic barriers by which
they are affected. Further research should explore rates of HPV vaccination
and screening in refugees in Slovenia, and the barriers that prevent refugees
from taking this preventive measure.
References
Arbyn, M., Castellsague, X., de Sanjose, S., Bruni, L., Saraiya, M., Bray, F., & Ferlay,
J. (2011). Worldwide burden of cervical cancer in 2008. Annals of Oncology,
22(12), 2675–2686.
Arnold, M., Aarts, M. J., Siesling, S., Aa, M. van der, Visser, O., & Coebergh, J.
W. (2013). Diverging breast and stomach cancer incidence and survival in
78
reasons remains an understudied area. Möller, Kristiansen, and Norredam
(2018) found that refugee girls had significantly lower HPV immunization
uptake compared with Danish-born girls in the ordinary immunization pro-
gram. They also identified that region of origin, duration of residence, and in-
come were predictors of HPV vaccination uptake among refugee girls. Unfor-
tunately, those factors that corelate with low screening participation, such as
low education, low income, and minority status, also correlate with low HPV
vaccination rates (Becket, 2016). A study in the Netherlands has drawn atten-
tion to the cultural differences that can act as a barrier to HPV vaccination for
immigrants and refugees in Western countries (Salad, Verdonk, de Boer, &
Abma, 2015). Immigrant parents’ concerns related to lack of information with
respect to vaccine efficacy and safety, fear that vaccine was experimentation
on their daughter, cost, long term side effect, and a belief that vaccination
may increase early sexual behaviour have been implicated in the lack of vac-
cination acceptance. Cultural attitude and the fear of shame and stigma also
inhibited vaccination uptake (Salad et al., 2015). The decision-making process
of women of this population generally relies upon social connections and
support of cultural peers. Greater efforts are needed to increase knowledge
about HPV among immigrant and refugee parents and support for physicians
to discuss and offer vaccination to this underserved population.
Conclusions
With vaccination against HPV and efficient screening program to detect pre-
cancerous cervical lesions, we believe that Slovenia could be free of cervical
cancer within 20 years. The high prevalence of HPV infections and cervical
cancer risk among immigrant women demands for an urgent implementa-
tion of preventive strategies to increase screening and vaccine coverage. It
is imperative that we understand the current state of screening and vacci-
nation in this population, and the cultural and systemic barriers by which
they are affected. Further research should explore rates of HPV vaccination
and screening in refugees in Slovenia, and the barriers that prevent refugees
from taking this preventive measure.
References
Arbyn, M., Castellsague, X., de Sanjose, S., Bruni, L., Saraiya, M., Bray, F., & Ferlay,
J. (2011). Worldwide burden of cervical cancer in 2008. Annals of Oncology,
22(12), 2675–2686.
Arnold, M., Aarts, M. J., Siesling, S., Aa, M. van der, Visser, O., & Coebergh, J.
W. (2013). Diverging breast and stomach cancer incidence and survival in
78
