Journal article
HPV vaccine, Twitter, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men
Health promotion international, v 35(2), pp 290-300
01 Apr 2020
PMID: 31006017
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
This study aimed to quantify human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Twitter messaging addressing gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GB+MSM) and describes messaging by vaccine sentiment (attitudes towards vaccine) and characteristics (topic of messaging). Between August 2014 and July 2015, we collected 193 379 HPV-related tweets and classified them by vaccine sentiment and characteristics. We analysed a subsample of tweets containing the terms 'gay', 'bisexual' and 'MSM' (N = 2306), and analysed distributions of sentiment and characteristics using chi-square. HPV-related tweets containing GB+MSM terms occupied 1% of our sample. The subsample had a largely positive vaccine sentiment. However, a proportion of 'gay' and 'bisexual' tweets did not mention the vaccine, and a proportion of 'gay' and 'MSM' tweets had a negative sentiment. Topics varied by GB+MSM term-HPV risk messaging was prevalent in 'bisexual' (25%) tweets, and HPV transmission through sex/promiscuity messaging was prevalent in 'gay' (18%) tweets. Prevention/protection messaging was prevalent only in 'MSM' tweets (49%). Although HPV vaccine sentiment was positive in GB+MSM messaging, we identified deficits in the volume of GB+MSM messaging, a lack of focus on vaccination, and a proportion of negative tweets. While HPV vaccine promotion has historically focused on heterosexual HPV transmission, there are opportunities to shape vaccine uptake in GB+MSM through public health agenda setting using social media messaging that increases knowledge and minimizes HPV vaccine stigma. Social media-based HPV vaccine promotion should also address the identities of those at risk to bolster vaccine uptake and reduce the risk of HPV-attributable cancers.
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Details
- Title
- HPV vaccine, Twitter, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men
- Creators
- Alexandra Budenz - Drexel UniversityAnn Klassen - Drexel UniversityAmy Leader - Thomas Jefferson UniversityKara Fisher - Association of American Medical CollegesElad Yom-Tov - Microsoft Research Israel, 13 Shenkar St., Gay-Yam Bldg. 5, Herzliya 4672513, Israel.Philip Massey - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Health promotion international, v 35(2), pp 290-300
- Publisher
- Oxford Univ Press
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- IRG 14-251-07 / American Cancer Society Drexel University Institutional Review Board
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000565878900011
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85085531643
- Other Identifier
- 991019168302204721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Health Policy & Services
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health