NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Health Promotion Research

Human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention has become a critical public health concern, especially among adolescents and young adults. This population falls within the optimal age range for receiving the HPV vaccine, which effectively reduces the risk of several cancers caused by the virus. Despite the availability and success of the vaccine, misinformation, cultural stigma, and lack of targeted awareness contribute to poor vaccination rates in various communities.

In semi-rural areas like Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, these challenges are compounded by systemic barriers. A robust, community-based health promotion initiative is essential to bridge the knowledge and access gaps. Such a program should include accurate vaccine education, stakeholder engagement—including families, schools, and local healthcare professionals—and an infrastructure that supports easy access to preventive services (Schlecht et al., 2021). The following research explores HPV-related health challenges in Schwenksville, identifies impediments to vaccine adoption, and outlines community-based interventions aimed at improving health outcomes among youth.

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

Adolescents and young adults in Schwenksville, particularly those between ages 11 and 26, face significant challenges in accessing the HPV vaccine. Statewide statistics from Pennsylvania indicate that 68.7% of adolescents aged 13–17 have completed the vaccine series. However, Schwenksville lags behind, with only 48.7% completion—highlighting stark disparities between rural and urban areas (PA.gov, 2025). Several obstacles contribute to this disparity: inadequate access to adolescent-specific healthcare, insufficient emphasis from healthcare providers, and parental discomfort surrounding conversations about sexual health. Geographic isolation further restricts access to routine care (Lipsky et al., 2025).

While detailed, localized vaccination data for Schwenksville is limited, general trends from similar rural communities suggest that cultural attitudes and limited healthcare outreach influence vaccination behavior. Assumptions about HPV as a purely sexually transmitted disease often overshadow its cancer-prevention benefits. This underscores the importance of future data collection through school health assessments and local surveys to develop tailored interventions.

Population Needs and Health Disparities

Schwenksville, located in Montgomery County, has an estimated population of 1,500 residents (Datausa, 2023). The town is primarily composed of White, middle-income families. Despite the proximity of basic healthcare services, adolescent and pediatric services are sparse, limiting access to HPV vaccinations. Community-based institutions, such as schools and churches, often serve as vital sources of health information and education. However, conservative cultural values influence how sexual health topics are perceived and discussed, especially in family settings (Kim et al., 2023).

This cultural conservatism presents a significant barrier to HPV awareness. Many parents are hesitant to engage in discussions involving sexual behavior, even when these conversations center on cancer prevention. Therefore, public health campaigns must be carefully designed to reflect the values of the community while conveying accurate and compelling information. Using neutral, non-stigmatizing language that frames HPV prevention in the context of cancer avoidance can help bridge this cultural gap.

The challenges observed in Schwenksville are reflective of broader rural health disparities across the state and country. Common issues include logistical barriers, limited educational outreach, and deeply rooted vaccine hesitancy. Programs that include school-based vaccination clinics, mobile health units, and community forums during school functions can be highly effective. These settings provide safe, familiar environments where accurate information can be shared and stigmas reduced (Kim et al., 2023).

Table 1: Key Health Disparities and Strategies in Schwenksville

Challenge	Impact on HPV Vaccination	Suggested Solution
Limited provider access	Reduced opportunities for vaccination	Implement school-based vaccination clinics
Parental misinformation	Low acceptance due to fear or misunderstanding	Use culturally tailored education and counseling
Transportation challenges	Missed appointments and lack of follow-up	Deploy mobile health services or organize local vaccine drives
Conservative community norms	Reluctance to discuss HPV-related topics	Frame messaging around cancer prevention, not sexuality

Cultural misconceptions often dominate HPV-related discussions in conservative communities, reducing the perceived importance of vaccination. Limited access to public health campaigns in rural regions further exacerbates this issue (Zhang et al., 2023). Hence, health promotion efforts must integrate community perspectives and feedback to ensure they resonate with the target audience. By emphasizing HPV vaccination as a routine preventive measure and aligning messaging with local values, health campaigns can increase both understanding and uptake.

SMART Goals and Health Promotion Strategies

In response to the challenges surrounding HPV vaccination in Schwenksville, a set of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals has been established to guide public health initiatives. These goals focus on education, action, and community empowerment.

Table 2: SMART Goals for Improving HPV Vaccination Rates

Goal	Description	Measurement Tool	Timeline
Goal 1	Ensure 90% of attendees can identify three key facts about HPV and cancer	Post-education quiz	Immediately after session
Goal 2	Obtain commitments from 80% of attendees to schedule their first HPV dose	Verbal pledge or sign-up sheet	Within 30 days post-session
Goal 3	Increase confidence of 85% of participants in discussing HPV with others	Pre/post-session confidence scale	At session end

These objectives are designed to facilitate behavioral change and long-term engagement. Public sessions would include interactive components like visual materials, handouts, and peer testimonials to improve participant understanding (Bowden et al., 2023). Additionally, providing direct scheduling options and clinic contact information during events simplifies the vaccination process and encourages follow-through.

Role-playing exercises and guided conversation starters can help normalize discussions about HPV and dispel myths. Emphasizing scientific evidence and presenting relatable stories increases trust and encourages open dialogue. Consistent outreach through community events, school partnerships, and local leadership involvement ensures that awareness is sustained beyond a single event.

Conclusion

The fight against HPV-related diseases in Schwenksville, PA, underscores the urgent need for community-specific health promotion efforts. Limited access to healthcare, cultural stigma, and misinformation all contribute to suboptimal vaccination rates in the area. However, by leveraging localized education, culturally sensitive communication, and strategic intervention models such as SMART goals, public health professionals can make measurable progress.

This model not only serves Schwenksville but also offers a replicable framework for similar rural communities. With community participation, accessible services, and tailored messaging, HPV vaccination efforts can be both impactful and sustainable, improving long-term health outcomes for at-risk youth.

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. BMC Medicine, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02965-w

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

Kim, S. Y., Lee, Y., Yoo, D. M., Oh, I. H., & Yoon, S. J. (2023). Parental attitude and acceptance of HPV vaccination in conservative communities: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Community Health, 48(2), 227–234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-023-01123-9

Lipsky, M. S., Sharp, L. K., & Froman, R. (2025). Health provider factors in rural HPV vaccine delivery: A Pennsylvania perspective. Preventive Medicine Reports, 35, 102089.

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

Magana, L., Reeves, M. J., & Rodriguez, A. M. (2023). Rural health disparities in adolescent immunizations: Insights from Pennsylvania. Public Health Nursing, 40(1), 45–52.

PA.gov. (2025). Immunization data by county and age group. Pennsylvania Department of Health. https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/programs/immunizations

Schlecht, N. F., Fatahzadeh, M., Chen, Z., Borges, C., & Burk, R. D. (2021). Human papillomavirus infection and associated diseases in underserved populations. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 21(8), e174–e182. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30750-7

Zhang, Y., Moore, J., & Harris, R. (2023). Vaccine hesitancy and HPV: Cultural and educational barriers in rural populations. Vaccine, 41(10), 2021–2029.

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research