Assessing attitudes, barriers, and opportunities for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination (HPVV) to inform, develop, implement, and evaluate a culturally appropriate program for increasing utilization and addressing vaccination hesitancy in Arctic Canadian Indigenous communities

Northwest Territories (NT) Indigenous communities have expressed concerns for the number of people affected by cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical and other types of cancer. HPV vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent cervical cancer caused by HPV. Yet, NT school-based vaccination rates are among the lowest in Canada for reasons that are not well-known. There is an urgent need for community-specific, culturally-relevant strategies that are appropriate and effective to increase knowledge and willingness for HPV vaccination in the NT. Given the current pandemic, communities have also asked us to address concerns regarding vaccination for when a COVID-19 vaccine is developed. Furthermore, COVID-19 is likely further reducing HPV vaccination coverage and utilization of other cancer screening services in NT. This project will work closely with 2 NT communities using Indigenous methodologies and Two-Eyed Seeing to listen to peoples' experiences and concerns surrounding HPV, HPV vaccination, and vaccine hesitancy within the context of COVID-19. Working collaboratively with community members and healthcare providers, this project will develop, implement and evaluate a culturally safe, community-based program, designed and delivered by local staff, utilizing on-the-land and traditional activities, to understand and address concerns related to cervical cancer, and HPV/COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy; increase HPV vaccination; and ultimately reduce the burden of HPV-related cancers. This project could greatly reduce the burden of cervical and other related cancers by increasing HPV vaccination in remote Arctic Indigenous communities while providing salient knowledge regarding HPV vaccination, as well as community member willingness towards a potential COVID-19 vaccine.