NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research
Student Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Health Promotion Research
Mississippi also has a number of parks and recreational centers particularly in cities such as Jackson which the LGBTQ community utilize in socialization and engaging in wellness life activities. These green spaces offer safe physical activities, psychological and social space. It can also be used to conduct outreach activities like awareness about HPV in the recreational areas. They are usually utilized as mobiles clinics and means of community health campaigns when non-stigmatizing health education and prevention are to be provided to the community.
Population Analysis
The LGBTQ population in Mississippi has a health issue that is associated with HPV, one of the most widespread sexually transmitted infections. Transgender women and men who have sex with men are still at higher risk of cancer caused by HPV, such as anal cancer, penile cancer, and oral cancer. The state has effective vaccines available at local clinics and pharmacies, but the LGBTQ adults still demonstrate reduced rates of vaccination in comparison with the general population (Hao et al., 2021). Poor knowledge about HPV and stigma as well as difficulty in accessing supportive medical care are some of the factors that lead to low vaccine uptake.
The fact that HPV is believed to mostly impact women continues to be one of the reasons why many people are not motivated to get vaccinated. The increased availability of culturally competent and inclusive healthcare providers will help to enhance education, eliminate misunderstandings, and reinforce preventative measures. Most people in the LGBTQ community experience increased housing instability, underemployment, and financial difficulty, all of which restrict their access to healthcare services on a regular basis. Mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, decrease the participation in preventive care.
NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research
The effect of discrimination, disrespect, or bias experienced by healthcare experts results in avoiding clinics and decreases intentions to revisit to get a vaccination or follow-up appointment (Magana et al., 2023). Offering precise, understandable information on the dangers of cancer, sexual health and the protective worth of vaccination can encourage healthy behavior. In Mississippi, the community-based clinics are collaborating with the public health organizations in expanding the HPV prevention programs. The culturally responsive outreach and LGBTQ-affirming education should increase the vaccination rates and reduce HPV-related diseases. This discussion shows that HPV prevention is a feasible health concern of LGBTQ individuals in Mississippi.
Underlying Assumptions
The analysis presumes that LGBTQ persons in Mississippi have consistent access to affirming healthcare services and supportive community programs. It assumes that local health organizations deliver culturally sensitive HPV education. However, data gaps exist regarding vaccination uptake among transgender women. Another area of doubt involves the impact of economic instability, which can disrupt access to care and hinder completion of vaccination schedules. These underlying assumptions and limitations shape the efficiency of health promotion strategies and affect how well proposed interventions work in real-world settings.
Characteristics of Chosen Community
LGBTQ of Mississippi is a non-homogeneous group of non-heterosexual people (nonbinary persons, women who have sex with women, men who have sex with men) with multiple racial backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and education backgrounds. Even though the state does not offer any special districts of people of LGBTQ as in the largest cities, most people use inactive community areas, advocacy groups, and supportive organizations as a way to seek safety, identity, and belonging. These networks are essential pillars in the outreach process so that health promotion programs could connect with the people in the setting in which they feel valued and appreciated (Hao et al., 2021). Through trusted community spaces, programs can improve participation, develop rapport, and increase health engagement by providing services and educating on services.
Health disparities negatively impacting the LGBTQ community in Mississippi are still occurring on a large scale, with increased levels of housing insecurity, joblessness, and inconsistent access to regular healthcare services. These socio-economic factors have a direct impact on preventive actions, including HPV immunizations and frequent medical exams (Hao et al., 2021).
Despite the existing challenges, the local advocacy groups and the community-based organizations provide an essential support in the form of health education, outreach, and resource navigation. Their presence will introduce valuable chances to promote HPV awareness and prevention among the LGBTQ community and the community at large (Magana et al., 2023). The experiences of the LGBTQ residents underscore the need to develop culturally informed and inclusive community health strategies.
Importance of Health Concern
HPV continues to play a major role in increasing the risk of cancer in LGBTQ members in Mississippi, in anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. In the United States, it is estimated that 42 million individuals already have the infection, and about 13 million new cases are reported each year (Adekanmbi et al., 2024). The HPV vaccine is also effective in the prevention of nearly 90 percent of cancers that are caused by HPV.
But, 30.5 percent of children in Mississippi are already complete with the HPV vaccination series, which places Mississippi as the last of all 50 U.S. states regarding vaccination coverage (Mississippi HPV Roundtable, 2025). In the case of LGBTQ people in Mississippi, this is adversely affected by issues of stigma, misinformation, and inconsistent access to affirmative care services that result in lower vaccine uptake despite the fact that they are at risk of complications. Enhancing the prevention of HPV is thus vital in reducing the number of infections and preventing the burden of HPV cancer.
The issue of socioeconomic and demographic differences highlights how crucial focused health promotion of the LGBTQ population is. Members of this community frequently have unstable housing, lack of employment, and mental health problems, which hinder their regular healthcare attendance and adherence to vaccination (Junejo and Sheikh, 2021). Not all of them know the risks of HPV other than cervical cancer, which reduces the desire to take preventive actions. The health promotion programs are crucial to improve awareness, confront the stigma, and develop active health practices. Individualized educational curricula and readily available and universal services can assist in ensuring equal health outcomes.
SMART Goals
John Davis is a 24-year-old Latino male that lives in Jackson, Mississippi. He is gay and is sexually active having several partners. John has not been vaccinated against HPV, and though he realizes that the vaccine is mainly intended to be used by women, he is of the opinion that HPV vaccine has not been presented as a vaccine intended to prevent cancer in men. He is also doubting about the possible risks of cancer caused by HPV. John visits a nearby community health clinic regularly where he is tested on whether he has HIV or not, and shows readiness to learn more about prevention against other infections. He is willing to be counseled and likes more steps that are practical and incremental towards improvement of his sexual health and wellness.
Goal 1:
By the end of the lesson, John Davis will be able to explain what HPV is and identify at least two cancers associated with the infection. Many individuals have misconceptions and gaps in knowledge about HPV, cervical cancer, and vaccination (Kratzer et al., 2024). This objective addresses John’s knowledge gaps and corrects misinformation regarding HPV. It is highly relevant to John’s personal health, given his sexual activity and lack of vaccination. The goal is time-bound, with evaluation occurring before the session concludes.
Goal 2:
At the session end, John Davis will set a personal goal to have his first HPV vaccination appointment booked in the next month. Healthcare experts influence the decisions of HPV vaccination through awareness, knowledge, and information (Ajibola et al., 2024). This is a behavioral objective and it seeks to augment the levels of vaccine uptake. It is quantifiable as John will point to a particular date and site where he will receive his vaccination by the end of the session. The objective is achievable, because the HPV immunization services are available in the local clinics and pharmacies in Mississippi. It is applicable to the health of John, because vaccination is effective to prevent HPV-caused cancers. The objective is time sensitive and the success of the objective would be to schedule the appointment within a month.
Goal 3:
By the end of the week, John Davis will be able to name at least one LGBTQ-affirming healthcare resource where he can access preventive services, including HPV education and vaccination. This objective is specific, as it encourages John to connect with supportive and inclusive health services (Hao et al., 2021). It is measurable by having him provide the name of a resource during the follow-up session. The goal is attainable, given the availability of LGBTQ-focused clinics and community health centers in Mississippi. It is relevant because engaging with trusted providers helps reduce stigma and promotes consistent healthcare utilization. The goal is time-bound, with completion expected within one week.
Conclusion
LGBTQ prevention of HPV in Mississippi is a crucial health issue. The social, economic, and healthcare disparities of this population make them vulnerable and reduce its vaccination rates and risk of developing HPV-related cancers. Knowledge gaps, stigma reduction, and promotion of preventive behaviors can be achieved through culturally competent approaches to health promotion. This includes education, accessible services, and linkage with LGBTQ-affirming providers.
References
Adekanmbi, V., Sokale, I., Guo, F., Ngo, J., Hoang, T. N., Hsu, C. D., Oluyomi, A., & Berenson, A. B. (2024). Human papillomavirus vaccination and human papillomavirus–related cancer rates. JAMA Network Open, 7(9). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.31807
Ajibola, O., Davis, R. J., Lin, M. E., West, J. D., Kokot, N. C., & Chambers, T. (2024). Associations between risk perception, HPV knowledge, and vaccine uptake: Highlighting the LGBTQ+ population. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery: Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 170(6), 1684–1695. https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.664
Hao, Z., Guo, Y., Bowling, J., & Ledenyi, M. (2021). Facilitators and barriers of HPV vaccine acceptance, initiation, and completion among the LGBTQ community in the U.S.: A systematic review. International Journal of Sexual Health, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2021.1989535
NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research
Junejo, M. H., & Sheikh, U. A. (2021). Human papillomavirus—Inequalities in disease prevention and the impact on racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities. Pediatric Dermatology, 38(S2), 170–173. https://doi.org/10.1111/pde.14740
Kratzer, T. B., Star, J., Islami, F., Jemal, A., & Siegel, R. L. (2024). Cancer in people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or gender‐nonconforming. Cancer, 130(17). https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.35355
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
Mississippi HPV Roundtable. (2025). Mississippi HPV roundtable. Www.mshpvroundtable.org. https://www.mshpvroundtable.org/