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Human Papillomavirus Risk Perceptions Among Young Adult Sexual Minority Cisgender Women and Nonbinary Individuals Assigned Female at Birth
Author(s) -
Agénor Madina,
Jahn Jaquelyn L.,
Kay Eriko,
Bishop Rachel A.,
Peitzmeier Sarah M.,
Potter Jennifer,
Austin S. Bryn
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
perspectives on sexual and reproductive health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.818
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1931-2393
pISSN - 1538-6341
DOI - 10.1363/psrh.12087
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , psychology , context (archaeology) , thematic analysis , sexual orientation , sexual minority , risk perception , young adult , demography , medicine , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , perception , qualitative research , social psychology , psychiatry , paleontology , social science , neuroscience , sociology , biology
CONTEXT Some sexual minority women may be less likely than other women to engage in human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention behaviors. Although risk perceptions have been found to be associated with health behaviors, HPV risk perceptions among U.S. sexual minority women have not been examined . METHODS In 2016–2017, in‐depth interviews were conducted in Boston with 29 sexual minority individuals aged 18–36 who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) and identified as women or nonbinary. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants online, through community‐based and student organizations, and by word of mouth. Thematic analysis was employed to examine participants’ HPV risk perceptions . RESULTS Participants incorrectly linked HPV risk to the exchange of genital fluids, and a hierarchy of perceived risk emerged in relation to sexual orientation: Individuals who engage in penile‐vaginal sex with partners who were assigned male at birth (AMAB) were perceived to be at highest risk, and lesbians and individuals with only AFAB partners were perceived to be at low risk. Lesbians and participants with only AFAB partners identified sex with bisexual women or AFAB individuals with AMAB partners as a risk factor for HPV infection. Risk perceptions were shaped by health care providers’ linking HPV risk to sex with AMAB individuals, a lack of discussion of HPV with parents and peers, and the exclusion of information on HPV and sexual minority women from school‐based sex education . CONCLUSION Interventions providing sexual minority AFAB individuals with comprehensive, accurate and tailored information about HPV risk are needed .