Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
Center for Global Health, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
Front Public Health. 2023 Feb 21;11:1067299. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1067299. eCollection 2023.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is responsible for many cancers in both women and men. Cervical cancer, caused by HPV, is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, even though it is one of the most preventable cancers. Prevention efforts include HPV vaccination, however these programs remain nascent in many countries. In 2020 the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Strategy for cervical cancer elimination including a goal to fully vaccinate 90% of girls with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15. However, very few countries have reached even 70% coverage. Increased vaccine availability in the future may allow the opportunity to vaccinate more people. This could add to the feasibility of introducing gender-neutral HPV vaccination programs. Adopting a gender-neutral HPV vaccine approach will reduce HPV infections transmitted among the population, combat misinformation, minimize vaccine-related stigma, and promote gender equity. We propose approaching programmatic research through a gender-neutral lens to reduce HPV infections and cancers and promote gender equality. In order to design more effective policies and programs, a better understanding of the perspectives of clients, clinicians, community leaders, and policy-makers is needed. A clear, multi-level understanding of these stakeholders' views will facilitate the development of target policy and programs aimed at addressing common barriers and optimizing uptake. Given the benefit of developing gender-neutral HPV vaccination programs to eliminate cervical cancer and address other HPV associated cancers, we must build knowledge through implementation research around this topic to inform policy-makers and funders for future policy shifts.
人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染是导致男女癌症的主要原因。宫颈癌是由 HPV 引起的，是全世界女性中第四常见的癌症，尽管它是最可预防的癌症之一。预防措施包括 HPV 疫苗接种，然而，这些项目在许多国家仍处于起步阶段。2020 年，世界卫生大会通过了《消除宫颈癌全球战略》，包括到 2030 年为 90%的 15 岁女孩全面接种 HPV 疫苗的目标。然而，很少有国家的覆盖率甚至达到 70%。未来疫苗供应的增加可能会为更多人接种疫苗提供机会。这可能会增加引入性别中立 HPV 疫苗接种计划的可行性。采取性别中立 HPV 疫苗接种方法将减少人群中传播的 HPV 感染，对抗错误信息，最大限度地减少与疫苗相关的耻辱感，并促进性别平等。我们建议通过性别中立的视角来进行方案研究，以减少 HPV 感染和癌症，并促进性别平等。为了制定更有效的政策和方案，需要更好地了解客户、临床医生、社区领导和决策者的观点。明确、多层次地了解这些利益相关者的观点，将有助于制定针对共同障碍和优化参与度的目标政策和方案。鉴于制定性别中立 HPV 疫苗接种计划以消除宫颈癌和解决其他 HPV 相关癌症的益处，我们必须通过围绕该主题的实施研究来建立知识，为政策制定者和资助者提供未来政策转变的信息。
