The influence of religion and gender on physician and nurse HPV immunization recommendations in Newfoundland and Labrador

Law, Victoria G. (2016) The influence of religion and gender on physician and nurse HPV immunization recommendations in Newfoundland and Labrador. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can have serious consequences for all genders. Despite these risks, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has failed to include all individuals in the provincially funded HPV vaccination program. The purpose of this instrumental case study was to assess physicians’ and nurses’ intentions to recommend the HPV vaccine for male youth through the lenses gender and religion, and to use that information to strengthen their intentions to recommend. Data were collected using surveys and individual interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic coding. Findings were framed using the Theory of Planned Behaviour and revealed that there is an imbalance in HPV recommendations across genders, that sexual health is viewed primarily the responsibility of females, and that trans and non-female identifying individuals are systematically marginalized by the current policy. These findings have implications for policy and can raise the awareness of practitioners about systemic barriers to recommending the vaccine.

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