Anal cancer risk and HPV infection knowledge and awareness among Hispanic persons living with HIV in Puerto Rico.

Background: Persons living with HIV (PLWH) have a higher risk of persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and anal cancer. We evaluated knowledge and awareness of HPV infection and risk factors for anal cancer among PLWH in Puerto Rico (PR). Methods: Data from a cross-sectional study (2020-2021) were analyzed (n=212). Inclusion criteria included PLWH, aged ≥ 26 years, and living in PR. Telephone interviews collected information on sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical characteristics. Two 13-item scales were used to assess knowledge of HPV and anal cancer risk factors; adequate knowledge for both scales were defined as scoring >70%. Logistic regression models using generalized linear models were used to determine the association between 1) HPV infection awareness, 2) HPV infection knowledge, and 3) Anal cancer risk factors knowledge. Results: The median age was 54 years (IQR: 46,58), 67.5% were male, 71.7% reported having an income <$20,000, and 54.3% had an education level of more than high school. HPV awareness was high (82.1%), but only 40.2% and 3.8% had adequate knowledge of HPV and anal cancer risk factors, respectively. In adjusted logistic regression models, men who have sex with men (OR: 1.26, 95%CI: 1.07-1.47) and women (OR: 1.35, 95%CI: 1.15-1.59) aged ≥50 years had higher odds of HPV awareness than heterosexual men in that age group. Moreover, those with history of anal Pap test aged <50 years had more HPV awareness (OR 1.34, 95%CI: 1.08-1.66) than their counterparts. Adequate HPV knowledge was higher among participants with an education level of more than high-school (OR:1.28, 95%CI: 1.10-1.50) and with a history of HPV diagnosis (OR:1.33, 95%CI: 1.08-1.65) than their counterparts. In addition, people with good/very good/excellent health perception had higher odds of HPV knowledge (OR:1.23, 95%CI: 1.03-1.47) than those who reported poor/regular health perception. For anal cancer risk factors, PLWH for ≥15 years had increased odds of having adequate knowledge (OR:1.07, 95%CI: 1.02-1.14) than their counterparts. Conclusions: Despite high awareness of HPV, limited knowledge about HPV and anal cancer risk factors was observed among PLWH. Results from our study highlight the need for educational efforts within this population as an anal cancer prevention strategy.

Trust in information sources during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with vaccine trust among a sample of Hispanic adults.

BACKGROUND: Public response to the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of trust, particularly among minority populations. Several factors might affect vaccine safety trust, including source trustworthiness. Using data from the Puerto Rico Community Engagement Alliance, we assessed the association between trust in information sources and the COVID-19 vaccine in a sample of Hispanic adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted from November 2021 to March 2022. Participants were telephone-interviewed to assess sociodemographic, clinical, and COVID-19-related variables. Vaccine trust was assessed by how confident respondents were regarding COVID-19 vaccine safety. Trust in COVID-19 information sources was assessed by asking respondents how much they trusted selected sources of information to provide accurate information about COVID-19, including the US and Puerto Rico governments, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health care professionals, and traditional media (television/radio/newspaper/internet). Logistic regression models estimated the odds ratio (OR, 95% CI) of COVID-19 vaccine trust based on trust in information sources. RESULTS: A total of 200 adults aged ≥21 years completed the telephone interview. While most of the study sample (97.5%) had been inoculated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 86% trusted in the COVID-19 vaccine's safety. After adjusting for age and sex, participants who attested greater trust in their healthcare professionals (OR=1.99, 95% CI=0.71, 5.62), the US government (OR=2.44, 95% CI=0.69, 8.68), and the CDC (OR=8.18, 95% CI=2.97, 22.57) reported increased vaccine trust as compared to those not having great confidence in these entities. CONCLUSION: These findings support that trust in information provided by the CDC is positively associated with COVID-19 vaccine trust. Acknowledging predictors of trust regarding COVID-19 vaccination could help address factors that affect vaccine confidence. In turn, it strengthens COVID-19 prevention efforts, benefiting common welfare, reducing health disparities, and aiding underserved populations.

Treatment Interruptions and Mortality among Puerto Rican Women with Gynecologic Cancers in Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and María: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer patients are among the most vulnerable populations during and after a disaster. We evaluated the impact of treatment interruption on the survival of women with gynecologic cancer in Puerto Rico following hurricanes Irma and María. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study among a clinic-based sample of women diagnosed between January 2016-September 2017 (n=112). Women were followed up from their diagnosis until December 2019, to assess vital status. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models were performed. RESULTS: Mean age was 56 (±12.3) years; corpus uteri (58.9%) was the most common gynecologic cancer. Predominant treatments were surgery (91.1%) and chemotherapy (44.6%). Overall, 75.9% were receiving treatment before the hurricanes, 16.1% experienced treatment interruptions and 8.9% died during the follow-up period. Factors associated with treatment interruption in bivariate analysis included younger age (≤55 years), having regional/distant disease, and receiving >1 cancer treatment (p<0.05). Crude analysis revealed an increased risk of death among women with treatment interruption (HR: 3.88, 95% CI=1.09-13.77), persisting after adjusting for age and cancer stage (HR: 2.49, 95% CI= 0.69-9.01). CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore the detrimental impact of treatment interruption on cancer survival in the aftermath of hurricanes, emphasizing the need for emergency response plans for this vulnerable population.

Ecological competition in the oral mycobiome of Hispanic adults living in Puerto Rico associates with periodontitis.

Background: Fungi are a major component of the human microbiome that only recently received attention. The imbalance of indigenous fungal communities and environmental fungi present in the oral cavity may have a role in oral dysbiosis, which could exacerbate oral inflammatory diseases. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study and recruited 88 participants aged 21 to 49 from sexually transmitted infection clinics in Puerto Rico. A full-mouth periodontal examination following the NHANES protocol defined periodontal severity (CDC/AAP). ITS2 (fungal) genes were amplified and sequenced for mycobiota characterization of yeast and environmental fungi. Environmental outdoor spore levels were measured daily by the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology San Juan station and defined by quartiles as spore scores. Results: Our data indicate polymicrobial colonization of yeast and environmental fungi in the oral cavity. Dominant taxa associated with periodontal disease included Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rigidoporus vinctus, and Aspergillus penicilloides, while Candida albicans were found to be ubiquitous. Fungal aerosols were found to impact the oral cavity biofilm, likely due to competition and neutralization by inhaled outdoor and indoor fungal spores. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report showcasing the ecological competition of measured outdoor environmental fungi with the human oral mycobiota.

Oral Inflammation and Human Papilloma Virus Association among Hispanics.

Background: Identifying factors related to persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is essential to reduce the incidence of HPV-related cancers. Objective: To evaluate whether gingival/periodontal inflammation is associated with oral HPV infection. Methods: This cross-sectional study (n = 740) uses data from the follow-up visit of the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study, which recruited overweight/obese adults aged 40-65 from Puerto Rico. Participants completed a dental examination and two interviews (face-to-face/ACASI) and provided oral rinse samples for HPV detection. Oral inflammation was assessed using two definitions: (1) the number of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP), and (2) the number of teeth with probing pocket depths (PPD) ≥ 4 mm and BOP. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between oral inflammation and oral HPV. Results: Nearly three-quarters (72%) of participants were female, and 68% had 50 years or older. Participants with HPV had a higher mean number of sites with BOP (15.5 vs. 10.1) and teeth with PPD ≥ 4 mm and BOP (8.5 vs. 3.2) than participants without HPV (p < 0.05). After adjusting for sex, age, income, and the number of oral sex partners, the odds of having an oral HPV infection increased by 3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.06) for any additional sites with BOP and 5% (95% CI: 1.02-1.09) for any other teeth with PPD ≥ 4 mm and BOP. Conclusions: We found that oral inflammation was associated with oral HPV infection among adults in Puerto Rico. Future studies need to further investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Evaluating the performance of anal cytology and high-risk HPV genotyping for detecting anal HSIL in a clinic-based sample of people living with and without HIV in Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND: Given the disproportionately elevated anal cancer risk in high-risk populations, it is important to assess the performance of commonly used anal cancer screening tools to improve the effectiveness of detection and treatment methods. This study evaluates 1) the concordance between anal cytology and histology results and 2) the performance of cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) genotyping as screening tools for detecting histologically confirmed anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). METHODS: Data from the Anal Neoplasia Clinic in Puerto Rico (2014-2021; n = 466) was used. The clinical performance of anal cytology and HR-HPV genotyping to detect HSIL was compared to the gold standard: high-resolution anoscopy-guided biopsy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and κ coefficients were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 66.95% of the patients were men, 74.0% were people living with HIV, 76.2% had anal HR-HPV infection, and 40.34% had histologically confirmed anal HSIL. The weighted κ statistic between the tests (cytology and histology) was 0.25 (p < .001). The sensitivity and specificity of cytology alone to detect anal HSIL were 84.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.3%-89.1%) and 36.0% (95% CI, 30.3%-42.0%), respectively. Anal HR-HPV genotyping had higher sensitivity (92.2%; 95% CI, 87.4%-95.6%) and similar specificity (34.8%; 95% CI, 29.2%-40.7%) compared to cytology. The two tests combined (positive results following cytology or HR-HPV test) improved sensitivity to detect anal HSIL (97.9%; 95% CI, 94.8%-99.4%), but specificity was compromised (19.2%; 95% CI, 14.7%-24.4%). CONCLUSION: Although HR-HPV genotyping improved the detection of anal HSIL, HR-HPV testing had lower specificity than anal cytology alone.

Climate Change and Cancer.

Climate change, the greatest threat to human health of our time, has implications for cancer control efforts throughout the cancer care continuum. The direct and indirect impacts of climate change on cancer risk, access to care, and outcomes are numerous and compounding, yet many oncology professionals might not be familiar with the strong connection between climate change and cancer. Thus, to increase awareness of this topic among cancer researchers, practitioners, and other professionals, this commentary discusses the links between climate change and cancer prevention and control, provides examples of adaptation and mitigation efforts, and describes opportunities and resources for future research.

Attitudes towards HPV and COVID school-entry policies among adults living in Puerto Rico.

Prior to the COVID pandemic, Puerto Rico (PR) had one of the highest Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine rates in the United States. The COVID pandemic and administration of COVID vaccines might have impacted attitudes toward HPV vaccination. This study compared attitudes toward HPV and COVID vaccines with respect to school-entry policies among adults living in PR. A convenience sample of 222 adults (≥21 years old) completed an online survey from November 2021 to January 2022. Participants answered questions about HPV and COVID vaccines, attitudes toward vaccination policies for school-entry, and perceptions of sources of information. We assessed the magnitude of association between the agreement of school-entry policies for COVID and HPV vaccination by estimating the prevalence ratio (PRadjusted) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI). The most trusted source of information for HPV and COVID vaccines were healthcare providers (42% and 17%, respectively) and the CDC (35% and 55%, respectively), while the least trusted were social media (40% and 39%, respectively), and friends and family (23% n = 47, and 17% n = 33, respectively). Most participants agreed that HPV (76% n = 156) and COVID vaccines (69% n = 136) should be a school-entry requirement. Agreement with school policy requiring COVID vaccination was significantly associated with agreement of school policy requiring HPV vaccination (PRadjusted:1.96; 95% CI:1.48-2.61) after controlling for potential confounders. Adults living in PR have an overall positive attitude about mandatory HPV and COVID vaccination school-entry policies, which are interrelated. Further research should elucidate the implications of the COVID pandemic on HPV vaccine attitudes and adherence rates.

Screening History and Survival Among Women With Cervical Cancer in Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer incidence is rising in Puerto Rico (PR). Screening for cervical cancer could prevent the occurrence of the disease or lead to its early detection, translating to survival benefits. In this study, we evaluated the association of cervical cancer screening status with tumor diagnosis and survival among Hispanic women living in PR. METHODS: We analyzed data for 506 incident cases of primary cervical cancer diagnosed from the period 2011-2014, identified through the PR Central Cancer Registry. We ascertained screening status 3 years before cervical cancer diagnosis using data from the period 2008-2014 from the PR Central Cancer Registry-Health Insurance Linkage Database. Patients were followed until 2019. Our outcomes of interest were stage at diagnosis and survival. RESULTS: Most women (78.86%) were covered by public insurance (Medicare and/or Medicaid), and 69.57% underwent screening 3 years before their diagnosis. The proportion of cases diagnosed with localized stage was significantly greater among the screened group compared with those unscreened (43.5% vs 33.1%, p < .0001). Multivariate analysis showed that women insured through Medicaid were less likely to have been screened when compared with women with private insurance (odds ratio = 0.29; 95% CI = 0.16-0.52). Five-year survival was significantly greater among screened (72%) than unscreened (54%) women (p log-rank < 0.05). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that women who received screening had a 39% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.43-0.87) lower risk of death compared with unscreened women. CONCLUSION: Our findings exemplify survival benefits among women who underwent cervical cancer screening in PR. Interventions to improve screening uptake and adherence are a public health priority.

Age-Specific Prevalence of Anal and Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infection and High-Grade Lesions in 11 177 Women by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status: A Collaborative Pooled Analysis of 26 Studies.

BACKGROUND: Age-specific data on anal, and corresponding cervical, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are needed to inform female anal cancer prevention. METHODS: We centrally reanalyzed individual-level data from 26 studies reporting HPV prevalence in paired anal and cervical samples by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and age. For women with HIV (WWH) with anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse (HSIL+), we also investigated concurrent cervical cytopathology. RESULTS: In HIV-negative women, HPV16 prevalence decreased significantly with age, both at anus (4.3% at 15-24 years to 1.0% at ≥55 years; ptrend = 0.0026) and cervix (7.4% to 1.7%; ptrend < 0.0001). In WWH, HPV16 prevalence decreased with age at cervix (18.3% to 7.2%; ptrend = 0.0035) but not anus (11.5% to 13.9%; ptrend = 0.5412). Given anal HPV16 positivity, concurrent cervical HPV16 positivity also decreased with age, both in HIV-negative women (ptrend = 0.0005) and WWH (ptrend = 0.0166). Among 48 WWH with HPV16-positive anal HSIL+, 27 (56%) were cervical high-risk HPV-positive, including 8 with cervical HPV16, and 5 were cervical HSIL+. CONCLUSIONS: Age-specific shifts in HPV16 prevalence from cervix to anus suggest that HPV infections in the anus persist longer, or occur later in life, than in the cervix, particularly in WWH. This is an important consideration when assessing the utility of cervical screening results to stratify anal cancer risk.

Oral microbiota and periodontitis severity among Hispanic adults.

Background: Periodontitis, one of the most common bacterial infections characterized by chronic inflammation, is also known to be a risk factor for chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. This inflammation is driven by an altered microbiota with an increase in pathogenic bacteria. We evaluated the association between oral microbiota and periodontitis severity in high-risk Hispanics. Method: This cross-sectional study recruited 134 sexually active participants aged 21 to 49 years old from STI Clinics in Puerto Rico. A periodontal examination, saliva collection, and an interviewer-administered questionnaire were performed. Periodontal severity was categorized as: having no disease, mild, and moderate/severe and BOP and tooth loos was noted. Saliva samples were collected for genomic DNA extraction, downstream 16S rDNA amplification sequencing, and bioinformatics analyses. Results: The structure, composition, and diversity of bacterial communities differed significantly according to periodontal severity. The richness and overall diversity also differed between participants without periodontitis and participants with some level of periodontal disease. A higher abundance of Prevotella, Veillonella, or Treponema was attributed to periodontal disease and Aggregatibacter to severe bleeding on probing, while Neisseria was found in higher abundance in healthy participants, decreasing its levels with drinking, smoking, and oral sex practices. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that dysbiosis occurs as periodontal disease progresses, and both alcohol consumption and smoking habits pose risk factors for oral dysbiosis. These results are of public health and clinical impact, as several bacteria identified could serve in the future as biomarkers for periodontitis and oral cancer risk.

Tdap-HPV vaccination bundling in the USA: Trends, predictors, and implications for vaccine series completion.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) promotes taking a 'bundling approach' (i.e., administering Tetanus, diphtheria toxoids, and acellular pertussis [Tdap] and human papillomavirus [HPV] vaccines in the same way and on the same day) for adolescent vaccinations. Recent trends and patterns in Tdap-HPV vaccination bundling in the USA remain undocumented. In addition, the implications of bundling Tdap-HPV vaccination for HPV vaccine series completion remain unknown. To address these critical knowledge gaps, we performed a retrospective study using a nationwide sample of privately insured adolescents (Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database). Tdap-HPV vaccination bundling (per 100 Tdap vaccination encounters) during 2014-2018 was estimated overall, for 50 states, and by adolescents' age, sex, and provider specialties. Survival model estimated the likelihood of series completion among 9-14-year-old adolescents. From 2014 to 2018, 560,806 adolescents received a Tdap vaccine of which 172,604 (30.8%) received the HPV vaccines on the same day. Tdap-HPV vaccination bundling (per 100 Tdap vaccinations) increased nationally, from 22.9 in 2014 to 39.1 in 2018 (Ptrend < 0.001); bundling was lowest in New York and New Jersey. The likelihood of receiving the Tdap and HPV vaccines bundled was higher for young and female adolescents. Adolescents who received their first HPV vaccine bundled with the Tdap vaccine were more likely to complete the series compared to those who received it alone (Hazards Ratio = 1.45; 1.43-1.48). HPV vaccination bundling has increased in recent years in the USA. The increased likelihood of HPV vaccine series completion provides important evidence supporting the adoption of same-day Tdap-HPV vaccine administration in clinical practice to boost HPV vaccination coverage.

Disruptions in Oncology Care Confronted by Patients with Gynecologic Cancer Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND: In September 2017, hurricanes Irma and Maria affected Puerto Rico (PR) and the US Virgin Islands (USVI), causing major disruptions in basic services and health care. This study documented the stressors and experiences of patients with gynecologic cancer receiving oncology care in PR following these hurricanes. METHODS: We conducted 4 focus groups (December 2018-April 2019) among women aged ≥21 years from PR who were diagnosed with gynecological cancer between September 2016 and September 2018 (n = 24). Using the same eligibility criteria, we also interviewed patients from the USVI (n = 2) who were treated in PR. We also conducted key-informant interviews with oncology care providers and administrators (n = 23) serving gynecologic cancer patients in PR. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded to identify emergent themes using a constant comparison method. RESULTS: Analyses of focus group discussions and interviews allowed us to identify the following emergent themes: 1) disruptions in oncology care were common; 2) communication between oncology providers and patients was challenging before and after the hurricanes hit; 3) patient resilience was key to resume care; and 4) local communities provided much-needed social support and resources. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides firsthand information about the disruptions in oncology care experienced by and the resiliency of women with gynecologic cancer following hurricanes Irma and Maria. Our findings underscore the need to incorporate oncology care in the preparedness and response plans of communities, health systems, and government agencies to maintain adequate care for cancer patients during and after disasters such as hurricanes.

Sex and educational attainment differences in HPV knowledge and vaccination awareness among unvaccinated-sexually active adults in Puerto Rico.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge and HPV vaccination uptake remain suboptimal. We assessed sex and educational attainment differences in HPV knowledge and vaccine awareness. Data from a cross-sectional study (2018-2021) in Puerto Rico among adults aged 21-49 was analyzed (n = 278). Adequate knowledge was defined as a score of ≥70% of correct responses on a 13-item knowledge scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of sex (men vs. women) and education (high school or less vs. more than high school) categories with adequate HPV knowledge and vaccine awareness. Adequate HPV knowledge was higher among women (53%) and men (46%) with more than high school and was lower among women (46%) and men (27%) with high school or less. For HPV vaccine awareness, similar results were observed. Women (OR = 3.0 ; 95%CI = 1.4-6.2) and men (OR = 2.3 , 95%CI = 1.1-4.8) with more than high school and women with high school or less (OR = 2.3 , 95%CI = 1.0-5.2) were more likely to have adequate HPV vaccine knowledge than men with high-school or less education. Heightened HPV vaccine awareness was also seen among more educated women and men and women with similar lower education when compared to men with ≤ high school. Men and individuals with lower educational attainment were more likely to have inadequate HPV knowledge and vaccine awareness. HPV vaccine-oriented educational interventions should target these high-risk groups.

Trends in the Incidence of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancers by County-Level Income and Smoking Prevalence in the United States, 2000-2018.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancer burden is rising in the United States. Trends in the incidence by county-level income and smoking prevalence remain undescribed. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 21 database to ascertain HPV-associated cancers during 2000-2018. Trends were estimated by county-level income and smoking prevalence quartiles. Anal and vulvar cancer incidence among women and anal cancer incidence among men increased markedly in the lowest-income counties, whereas the increases were slower in the highest-income counties (eg, for vulvar cancer, incidence increased 1.9% per year, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.9% to 2.9%, in the lowest-income counties vs 0.8% per year, 95% CI = 0.6% to 1.1%, in the highest-income counties). In recent years, cervical cancer incidence plateaued (0.0% per year [95% CI = -0.5% to 0.5%]) in the highest-income counties; in the lowest-income counties, the annual percentage change was 1.6% per year (95% CI = -0.7% to 4.0%). Counties with high smoking prevalence had marked increases in incidence compared with their counterparts (eg, anal cancer among men increased 4.4% per year [95% CI = 2.7% to 6.0%] for those living in counties with the highest smoking prevalence vs 1.2% per year [95% CI = 0.7% to 1.7%] for those living in counties with the lowest smoking prevalence). Improved and targeted prevention is needed to combat the widening disparities.

[Efforts towards the consolidation of public policies for the prevention of HPV-associated cancers in Puerto RicoEsforços realizados em Porto Rico para a consolidação de políticas públicas de prevenção de cânceres associados ao HPV]. / Esfuerzos realizados en Puerto Rico hacia la consolidación de políticas públicas para la prevención de cánceres asociados al VPH.

The purpose of this special report is to describe chronologically the events that contributed to the development and approval of legislation and subsequent implementation of a school vaccination mandate in order to prevent HPV and HPV-associated cancers in Puerto Rico (PR). Starting in 2010, PR initiated public-policy approvals aimed at improving cancer registries and HPV vaccine coverage through health insurance for adolescents aged 11 to 18 years. In 2014, scientific and community efforts succeeded in documenting the magnitude of morbidity caused by HPV and jointly developing HPV vaccine prevention and promotion strategies. In August 2018, PR became one of the first four territories of the United States of America to implement the HPV vaccine school entry requirement to decrease the incidence of HPV-associated cancers on the island. In 2019, it was enshrined in law that every immunization provider must submit immunization data to the Puerto Rico Immunization Registry. The case of PR demonstrates that public policy-making alongside collaboration between academic, scientific, and community coalitions can achieve population change and measurable outcomes aimed at HPV prevention. Countries with a similar public health problem could adopt efforts similar to those presented herein and align them with the World Health Organization goal of eradicating cervical cancer by 2030.

O propósito deste relatório especial é descrever cronologicamente os eventos que contribuíram para o desenvolvimento e a aprovação de legislação, e a implementação da exigência escolar de vacinação em Porto Rico (PR), a fim de prevenir o HPV e os cânceres associados a ele. A partir de 2010, PR iniciou as aprovações de políticas públicas com o objetivo de aprimorar o registro dos casos de câncer e a cobertura vacinal contra o HPV, por meio de planos de saúde, em adolescentes de 11 a 18 anos. Em 2014, esforços científicos e comunitários permitiram documentar a magnitude das doenças causadas pelo HPV e elaborar conjuntamente estratégias de prevenção e promoção da vacina contra o HPV. Em agosto de 2018, PR foi um dos primeiros quatro territórios dos Estados Unidos da América a implementar a vacina contra o HPV como exigência escolar, a fim de diminuir a incidência de cânceres associados ao HPV na ilha. Em 2019 ficou garantido por lei que todos os vacinadores devem enviar informações ao Registro de Imunização. O caso de PR demonstra que o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas, em conjunto com parcerias entre coalizões acadêmicas, científicas e comunitárias, alcança mudanças populacionais e resultados mensuráveis dirigidos à prevenção do HPV. Países com uma problemática de saúde pública similar poderiam adotar esforços semelhantes aos apresentados e alinhá-los ao objetivo da Organização Mundial da Saúde: a erradicação do câncer cervical até 2030.

Esfuerzos realizados en Puerto Rico hacia la consolidación de políticas públicas para la prevención de cánceres asociados al VPH

[RESUMEN]. El propósito de este informe especial es describir cronológicamente los eventos que contribuyeron al desarrollo y aprobación de la legislación e implementación del requisito escolar de vacunación en Puerto Rico (PR), con el fin de prevenir el VPH y los cánceres asociados a este. A partir del 2010, PR inició las aprobaciones de políticas públicas con el objetivo de mejorar el registro de casos de los cánceres y la cobertura de la vacuna contra el VPH a través de los planes médicos en adolescentes de 11 a 18 años. En el 2014, los esfuerzos científicos y comunitarios lograron documentar la magnitud de las enfermedades causadas por el VPH, y desarrollar en conjunto, estrategias de prevención y promoción de la vacuna contra el VPH. En agosto de 2018, PR logró ser uno de los primeros cuatro territorios de los Estados Unidos de América en implementar la vacuna contra el VPH como requisito escolar con el fin de disminuir la incidencia de cánceres asociados al VPH en la isla. En el 2019 se garantizó por ley que todo proveedor de vacunación debe reportar al Registro de Inmunización. El caso de PR demuestra que el desarrollo de políticas públicas junto con colaboraciones entre coaliciones académicas, científicas y comunitarias, logran cambios poblacionales y resultados medibles dirigidos a la prevención de VPH. Países con una problemática de salud pública similar podrían adoptar esfuerzos similares a los presentados, y alinearlos al objetivo de la Organización Mundial de la Salud: erradicación del cáncer cervical para 2030.

[ABSTRACT]. The purpose of this special report is to describe chronologically the events that contributed to the development and approval of legislation and subsequent implementation of a school vaccination mandate in order to prevent HPV and HPV-associated cancers in Puerto Rico (PR). Starting in 2010, PR initiated public policy approvals aimed at improving cancer registries and HPV vaccine coverage through health insurance for adolescents aged 11 to 18 years. In 2014, scientific and community efforts succeeded in documenting the magnitude of morbidity caused by HPV and jointly developing HPV vaccine prevention and promotion strategies. In August 2018, PR became one of the first four territories of the United States of America to implement the HPV vaccine school entry requirement to decrease the incidence of HPV-associated cancers on the island. In 2019, it was enshrined in law that every immunization provider must submit immunization data to the Puerto Rico Immunization Registry. The case of PR demonstrates that public policy-making alongside collaboration between academic, scientific, and community coalitions can achieve population change and measurable outcomes aimed at HPV prevention. Countries with a similar public health problem could adopt efforts similar to those presented herein and align them with the World Health Organization goal of eradicating cervical cancer by 2030.

[RESUMO]. O propósito deste relatório especial é descrever cronologicamente os eventos que contribuíram para o desenvolvimento e a aprovação de legislação, e a implementação da exigência escolar de vacinação em Porto Rico (PR), a fim de prevenir o HPV e os cânceres associados a ele. A partir de 2010, PR iniciou as aprovações de políticas públicas com o objetivo de aprimorar o registro dos casos de câncer e a cobertura vacinal contra o HPV, por meio de planos de saúde, em adolescentes de 11 a 18 anos. Em 2014, esforços científicos e comunitários permitiram documentar a magnitude das doenças causadas pelo HPV e elaborar conjuntamente estratégias de prevenção e promoção da vacina contra o HPV. Em agosto de 2018, PR foi um dos primeiros quatro territórios dos Estados Unidos da América a implementar a vacina contra o HPV como exigência escolar, a fim de diminuir a incidência de cânceres associados ao HPV na ilha. Em 2019 ficou garantido por lei que todos os vacinadores devem enviar informações ao Registro de Imunização. O caso de PR demonstra que o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas, em conjunto com parcerias entre coalizões acadêmicas, científicas e comunitárias, alcança mudanças populacionais e resultados mensuráveis dirigidos à prevenção do HPV. Países com uma problemática de saúde pública similar poderiam adotar esforços semelhantes aos apresentados e alinhá-los ao objetivo da Organização Mundial da Saúde: a erradicação do câncer cervical até 2030.

Association Between Body Mass Index and Cancer Screening Adherence Among Latinas in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Background: Research on the role of body size on cancer screening is mixed with few studies among Latinas in the United States. We evaluated the association between body size and cancer screening adherence among Latinas living in Puerto Rico and the rest of the United States. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using 2012-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data among Latinas 50-64 years of age (n = 16,410). Breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening (guideline adherent: yes/no), height and weight were self-reported. Prevalence ratios (PRs) derived from Poisson models were estimated for each cancer screening utilization for Puerto Rico versus rest of the United States by body mass index (BMI) category. Results: Nearly a quarter of women lacked adherence with breast and cervical cancer screening and 43.6% were nonadherent to colorectal cancer screening. Latinas with BMI ≥40.0 kg/m2 in both groups were more likely to lack adherence to cervical cancer screening than women with BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2. For those with BMI ≥40.0 kg/m2, Latinas in Puerto Rico were more likely to lack adherence to colorectal cancer screening recommendations than Latinas living in the rest of the United States (adjusted PR: 1.38; 95% confidence interval = 1.12-1.70). Conclusions: The role of body size in cancer screening utilization among Latinas differs in women living in Puerto Rico versus in the rest of the United States and varies by cancer type. Understanding Latinas' experience can inform culturally adapted interventions to promote cancer screening.

Human papillomavirus vaccine initiation and up-to-date vaccine coverage for adolescents after the implementation of school-entry policy in Puerto Rico.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been proven effective in the prevention of infection with high-risk HPV types, which can lead to the development of six HPV-related cancers. Puerto Rico (PR) adopted a mandatory HPV vaccination school-entry policy that took effect in August 2018. While school-entry requirements are generally accepted as an effective approach for increasing vaccination rates, there are few studies that have documented their impact on improving HPV vaccination rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the HPV school-entry policy in PR on HPV vaccine coverage. We used a pre-post natural experiment. The study population included adolescents registered in the PR Immunization Registry during 2008-2019. We calculated HPV vaccine initiation and up-to-date (UTD) vaccine coverage rates. We estimated age-standardized rates (ASR) and standardized rate ratio with 95%CI. Vaccine data corresponding to a total of 495,327 adolescents were included for analysis; 50.9% were male and 49.1% were females. After policy implementation, a marked increase in raw HPV vaccine initiation among 11- to 12-year-old adolescents was observed across years 2017 (a pre-policy year), 2018, and 2019 (58.3%, 76.3%, and 89.8%, respectively). UTD coverage also showed a moderate increase after policy implementation among 11- to 12-year-old adolescents. The gap between sexes in vaccine initiation and UTD coverage narrowed over time; the ASRs in 2019 showed an increase of 19% in initiation and 7% increase in UTD relative to 2017 for males and females combined (both significant at p<0.05). This study demonstrated evidence of improvement in HPV vaccination rates following implementation of the school-entry policy and a narrowed sex gap in vaccine rates over time in PR. Future analyses should assess how the policy continues to affect vaccine coverage in subsequent years and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted HPV vaccination uptake.

Esfuerzos realizados en Puerto Rico hacia la consolidación de políticas públicas para la prevención de cánceres asociados al VPH / Efforts towards the consolidation of public policies for the prevention of HPV-associated cancers in Puerto Rico / Esforços realizados em Porto Rico para a consolidação de políticas públicas de prevenção de cânceres associados ao HPV

RESUMEN El propósito de este informe especial es describir cronológicamente los eventos que contribuyeron al desarrollo y aprobación de la legislación e implementación del requisito escolar de vacunación en Puerto Rico (PR), con el fin de prevenir el VPH y los cánceres asociados a este. A partir del 2010, PR inició las aprobaciones de políticas públicas con el objetivo de mejorar el registro de casos de los cánceres y la cobertura de la vacuna contra el VPH a través de los planes médicos en adolescentes de 11 a 18 años. En el 2014, los esfuerzos científicos y comunitarios lograron documentar la magnitud de las enfermedades causadas por el VPH, y desarrollar en conjunto, estrategias de prevención y promoción de la vacuna contra el VPH. En agosto de 2018, PR logró ser uno de los primeros cuatro territorios de los Estados Unidos de América en implementar la vacuna contra el VPH como requisito escolar con el fin de disminuir la incidencia de cánceres asociados al VPH en la isla. En el 2019 se garantizó por ley que todo proveedor de vacunación debe reportar al Registro de Inmunización. El caso de PR demuestra que el desarrollo de políticas públicas junto con colaboraciones entre coaliciones académicas, científicas y comunitarias, logran cambios poblacionales y resultados medibles dirigidos a la prevención de VPH. Países con una problemática de salud pública similar podrían adoptar esfuerzos similares a los presentados, y alinearlos al objetivo de la Organización Mundial de la Salud: erradicación del cáncer cervical para 2030.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this special report is to describe chronologically the events that contributed to the development and approval of legislation and subsequent implementation of a school vaccination mandate in order to prevent HPV and HPV-associated cancers in Puerto Rico (PR). Starting in 2010, PR initiated public-policy approvals aimed at improving cancer registries and HPV vaccine coverage through health insurance for adolescents aged 11 to 18 years. In 2014, scientific and community efforts succeeded in documenting the magnitude of morbidity caused by HPV and jointly developing HPV vaccine prevention and promotion strategies. In August 2018, PR became one of the first four territories of the United States of America to implement the HPV vaccine school entry requirement to decrease the incidence of HPV-associated cancers on the island. In 2019, it was enshrined in law that every immunization provider must submit immunization data to the Puerto Rico Immunization Registry. The case of PR demonstrates that public policy-making alongside collaboration between academic, scientific, and community coalitions can achieve population change and measurable outcomes aimed at HPV prevention. Countries with a similar public health problem could adopt efforts similar to those presented herein and align them with the World Health Organization goal of eradicating cervical cancer by 2030.

RESUMO O propósito deste relatório especial é descrever cronologicamente os eventos que contribuíram para o desenvolvimento e a aprovação de legislação, e a implementação da exigência escolar de vacinação em Porto Rico (PR), a fim de prevenir o HPV e os cânceres associados a ele. A partir de 2010, PR iniciou as aprovações de políticas públicas com o objetivo de aprimorar o registro dos casos de câncer e a cobertura vacinal contra o HPV, por meio de planos de saúde, em adolescentes de 11 a 18 anos. Em 2014, esforços científicos e comunitários permitiram documentar a magnitude das doenças causadas pelo HPV e elaborar conjuntamente estratégias de prevenção e promoção da vacina contra o HPV. Em agosto de 2018, PR foi um dos primeiros quatro territórios dos Estados Unidos da América a implementar a vacina contra o HPV como exigência escolar, a fim de diminuir a incidência de cânceres associados ao HPV na ilha. Em 2019 ficou garantido por lei que todos os vacinadores devem enviar informações ao Registro de Imunização. O caso de PR demonstra que o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas, em conjunto com parcerias entre coalizões acadêmicas, científicas e comunitárias, alcança mudanças populacionais e resultados mensuráveis dirigidos à prevenção do HPV. Países com uma problemática de saúde pública similar poderiam adotar esforços semelhantes aos apresentados e alinhá-los ao objetivo da Organização Mundial da Saúde: a erradicação do câncer cervical até 2030.