TY - JOUR
T1 - Barriers to HPV vaccination in marginalized Roma communities in Slovakia
AU - Filakovska Bobakova, Daniela
AU - Plavnicka, Jana
AU - Urbancikova, Ingrid
AU - Edelstein, Michael
AU - Jansen, Danielle
AU - Dankulincova Veselska, Zuzana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Filakovska Bobakova, Plavnicka, Urbancikova, Edelstein, Jansen and Dankulincova Veselska.
PY - 2023/12/5
Y1 - 2023/12/5
N2 - Introduction: Limited access to healthcare services leads to lower vaccination rates in marginalized Roma communities (MRCs). This study aimed to explore health system barriers to HPV vaccination faced by people from MRCs from multiple perspectives. Methods: The qualitative study was conducted in Slovakia in 2021/22 with 43 community members and health professionals. Data were analyzed using a combination of content analysis and consensual qualitative research. Results: A substantial barrier to vaccination is limited coverage of vaccination expenses for certain age categories by health insurance. Moreover, Slovakia faces a significant shortage of healthcare personnel, leading to work overload and a lack of capacity and motivation to address HPV vaccination. Impaired relationships between health care providers and people from MRCs lead to the avoidance of healthcare services, which contributes to insufficient delivery of information and a lack of awareness regarding HPV-related diseases and vaccination. Conclusion: Strengthening the capacities of health care providers, expanding the age group covered by health insurance and providing tailored information to people from MRCs are necessary prerequisites to increase the availability of HPV vaccination and enable people to make informed decisions about HPV vaccination.
AB - Introduction: Limited access to healthcare services leads to lower vaccination rates in marginalized Roma communities (MRCs). This study aimed to explore health system barriers to HPV vaccination faced by people from MRCs from multiple perspectives. Methods: The qualitative study was conducted in Slovakia in 2021/22 with 43 community members and health professionals. Data were analyzed using a combination of content analysis and consensual qualitative research. Results: A substantial barrier to vaccination is limited coverage of vaccination expenses for certain age categories by health insurance. Moreover, Slovakia faces a significant shortage of healthcare personnel, leading to work overload and a lack of capacity and motivation to address HPV vaccination. Impaired relationships between health care providers and people from MRCs lead to the avoidance of healthcare services, which contributes to insufficient delivery of information and a lack of awareness regarding HPV-related diseases and vaccination. Conclusion: Strengthening the capacities of health care providers, expanding the age group covered by health insurance and providing tailored information to people from MRCs are necessary prerequisites to increase the availability of HPV vaccination and enable people to make informed decisions about HPV vaccination.
KW - access to health care
KW - ethnic minority
KW - health system barriers
KW - HPV vaccination
KW - marginalized Roma communities
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180209496&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1239963
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1239963
M3 - Article
C2 - 38115851
AN - SCOPUS:85180209496
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
M1 - 1239963
ER -