Capella FPX 4055 Assessment 1

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Health Promotion Research

Preventing human papillomavirus (HPV) remains a critical public health initiative, especially for adolescents and young adults who are most suitable for vaccination. The ongoing spread of misinformation and lack of accurate understanding about HPV contributes to low immunization rates among this group, heightening the risk for associated cancers and illnesses. A thorough health promotion initiative is necessary to bridge these knowledge gaps by educating youth, parents, and educators on the vaccine’s benefits and improving access to reliable information and healthcare services (Schlecht et al., 2021). This project examines how HPV impacts the health of adolescents and young adults, identifies major obstacles to vaccination, and recommends targeted approaches to enhance vaccine acceptance in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania.

Population Analysis

In Schwenksville, PA, adolescents and young adults between the ages of 11 and 26 represent a key population for HPV prevention strategies. While HPV remains one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States, effective prevention through childhood vaccination is underutilized. Statewide, approximately 68.7% of adolescents aged 13–17 have completed the HPV vaccine series, yet only 48.7% of adolescents in Schwenksville have done so (PA.gov, 2025). This discrepancy highlights the urgent need for community-focused efforts that promote vaccine education, especially among underserved and minority populations.

Several barriers contribute to the lower vaccination rates in Schwenksville. These include limited availability of adolescent healthcare providers, insufficient healthcare provider advocacy, and hesitancy among parents due to misinformation or discomfort discussing sexual health. The semi-rural nature of the town results in infrequent medical visits and transportation issues, compounding these challenges (Lipsky et al., 2025). Adolescents are particularly vulnerable, as their understanding of HPV and its risks is often limited and heavily influenced by parental perceptions.

Points of Uncertainty and Assumptions

Due to the absence of local HPV vaccination data for Schwenksville, assumptions must be made based on broader rural trends in Pennsylvania. It is presumed that the cultural and socioeconomic factors affecting vaccine acceptance in similar non-urban settings also apply to Schwenksville. However, specific community beliefs, educational backgrounds, and healthcare experiences may vary. It is also unclear to what extent schools or local health organizations offer HPV-related education or outreach. Collecting such localized data would help refine and tailor intervention strategies for the community.

Community Characteristics and Relevance to the Broader Target Population

The primary focus for HPV prevention efforts in Schwenksville includes adolescents, young adults (ages 11–26), and their caregivers. With a population of around 1,500, Schwenksville is a small, semi-rural town in Montgomery County (Datausa, 2023). The community predominantly consists of working- and middle-class White families. While some medical services exist within the county, access to adolescent-specific care is limited, prompting residents to seek care outside town boundaries.

A unique trait of this population is their reliance on schools and community centers for health-related information. The local school system plays a significant role in shaping adolescent health literacy. Parents often hold conservative views, creating barriers to open discussions about HPV (Kim et al., 2023). Therefore, any health promotion campaign must be culturally respectful, family-oriented, and accessible to the broader community.

The situation in Schwenksville mirrors other rural or semi-rural American communities, where vaccine misinformation, healthcare access limitations, and minimal public awareness campaigns hinder HPV prevention efforts. By implementing community-level interventions—such as school-based vaccine clinics and educational meetings with parents—this model can serve as a replicable solution for other similar populations (Kim et al., 2023).

Importance of HPV Prevention in Schwenksville

HPV prevention is vital in Schwenksville, given the town’s lower-than-average vaccination rates. Although Pennsylvania’s adolescent vaccination rate sits at 68.7%, Schwenksville lags behind with just 48.7% (PA.gov, 2025). The significance of HPV immunization lies in its ability to prevent several cancers, including cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal. Strengthening vaccine uptake through structured health promotion will mitigate future healthcare burdens and promote healthier community outcomes.

Factors Contributing to Health and Health Disparities

Multiple determinants contribute to health disparities and low vaccination coverage in Schwenksville:

Contributing Factor	Description
Limited Healthcare Access	Few local providers and adolescent-focused clinics restrict vaccination access.
Insufficient Provider Advocacy	Healthcare providers in rural areas may lack resources for strong vaccine promotion.
Cultural Hesitancy	Conservative attitudes discourage open conversations about STIs and vaccines.
Lack of Awareness	Misconceptions about HPV’s link to cancer affect perceived vaccine importance.

Rural communities like Schwenksville often lack consistent public health messaging and outreach programs, resulting in lower levels of vaccine literacy (Magana et al., 2023). Engaging families through culturally tailored education is essential to overcoming resistance to HPV immunization (Zhang et al., 2023).

Need for Health Promotion

The disparities evident in HPV vaccination in Schwenksville justify the need for intentional health promotion strategies. Education tailored to adolescents and their caregivers on the benefits of the vaccine and its role in cancer prevention is crucial. Improved accessibility through school clinics and targeted outreach campaigns can help families receive vaccinations more conveniently (Zhang et al., 2023). These efforts will not only improve public health outcomes but also build a more informed community.

SMART Health Goals for HPV Prevention

Outlined below are three SMART goals developed to improve HPV vaccine knowledge, acceptance, and uptake in Schwenksville:

SMART Goal	Explanation
1. Improve Knowledge	By the end of the session, 90% of attendees will identify three facts about HPV and cancer, measured via quiz (Bowden et al., 2023).
2. Increase Commitment to Vaccinate	80% of participants aged 11–26 or their guardians will commit to scheduling their first HPV dose within 30 days, tracked via verbal pledge.
3. Enhance Communication Confidence	85% of attendees will show greater confidence discussing HPV vaccines with healthcare providers or family, evaluated using a confidence scale.

These SMART goals are structured to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, ensuring effectiveness and community engagement (Bowden et al., 2023).

Conclusion

Improving HPV vaccination rates in Schwenksville, PA, is a pressing public health goal due to low immunization coverage and high potential for preventable disease. Key obstacles include inadequate healthcare access, cultural resistance, and limited community awareness. A focused health promotion approach with well-defined SMART goals can bridge these gaps by empowering adolescents, engaging families, and strengthening healthcare-provider collaboration. Ultimately, community-based strategies will lead to more informed health decisions and a significant reduction in HPV-related illness.

References

Bowden, S., Doulgeraki, T., Bouras, E., Markozannes, G., Athanasiou, A., Grout-Smith, H., Kechagias, K. S., Zuber, V., Chadeau-Hyam, M., Flanagan, J. M., Tsilidis, K. K., & Kyrgiou, M. (2023). Risk factors for human papillomavirus infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer: An umbrella review and follow-up Mendelian randomisation studies. Biomed Central Medicine, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02965-w

Datausa. (2023). Schwenksville, PA | Data USA. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/schwenksville-pa

Capella FPX 4055 Assessment 1

Kim, S., Ou, L., Larkey, L., Todd, M., & Han, Y. (2023). Developing a culturally and linguistically congruent digital storytelling intervention in Vietnamese and Korean American mothers of human papillomavirus–vaccinated children: Feasibility and acceptability study. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e45696. https://doi.org/10.2196/45696

Lipsky, M. S., Wolfe, G., Radilla, B. A., & Hung, M. (2025). Human papillomavirus: A narrative review for dental providers in prevention and care. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(3), e439. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22030439

Magana, K., Strand, L., Love, M., Moore, T., Peña, A., Ito Ford, A., & Vassar, M. (2023). Health inequities in human papillomavirus prevention, diagnostics and clinical care in the USA: A scoping review. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 99(2), 128–136. https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2022-055587

PA.gov. (2025). Pennsylvania HPV vaccination rates. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. [URL placeholder]

Capella FPX 4055 Assessment 1

Zhang, Y., Zhu, J., Lin, J., & Liu, X. (2023). Parental attitudes and communication about HPV vaccination in rural populations: A qualitative review. Journal of Community Health, 48(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-022-01102-w