Young men with intellectual disabilities’ perceptions of HPV and HPV vaccine: A qualitative study on how to communicate HPV vaccine information

The success of vaccination programs relies on acceptance of recommended vaccines by communities and individuals. There is a paucity of evidence regarding how young men with intellectual disabilities actively produce or receive inclusive and accessible HPV information. As part of a larger qualitative study, we explored how young men with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities contend with information on HPV and how they negotiated safer sex prior to the introduction of the Scottish schools-based gender-neutral HPV vaccination program in 2019. Objectives included identifying strategies for reaching young men with intellectual disabilities; identifying modes of communication that enable young men with intellectual disabilities to discuss HPV; exploring knowledge, awareness, relevance, and participant experiences of HPV vaccination; perceived barriers and facilitators toward vaccination behavior; perceptions of publicly available HPV information and formats. Working with institutions of further education to identify participants, 18 young men chose to participate. Three focus group discussions using activity-oriented questions were conducted. Regardless of ability, a series of activities enabled them to explore questions about their knowledge of HPV and any experience of the vaccination program. Communication aids included familiar objects and symbols from daily life breaking down barriers and power inequities. Data were analyzed drawing on critical discourse analysis. Designed and tailored communication interventions were effective in reaching this population group. Adopting a participatory activity-oriented approach and spending significant time looking at pictures and artifacts enabled young men with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities to discuss behavioral risks and consequences of HPV and to identify design factors for accessible health information.