A systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience HPV and HPV vaccination

There are suboptimal levels of HPV vaccine uptake among gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM), despite the prevalence and incidence rates of HPV infection among GBMSM being higher than heterosexual males. This systematic review provides a thematic synthesis of qualitative research whic...

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Main Authors: Janette Pow, Lewis Clarke, Sheona McHale, Carol Gray-Brunton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2025.2490440
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author Janette Pow
Lewis Clarke
Sheona McHale
Carol Gray-Brunton
author_facet Janette Pow
Lewis Clarke
Sheona McHale
Carol Gray-Brunton
author_sort Janette Pow
collection DOAJ
description There are suboptimal levels of HPV vaccine uptake among gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM), despite the prevalence and incidence rates of HPV infection among GBMSM being higher than heterosexual males. This systematic review provides a thematic synthesis of qualitative research which examined the perceptions and experiences of GBMSM to HPV vaccine acceptability and explored the barriers and facilitators to participating in HPV vaccination. This review offers new insights about GBMSM understandings of HPV and how they are shaped by a complex relationship between limited knowledge and information of HPV, feminization of HPV with the focus on cervical cancer and women, and the socio-political governmentality of health services in meeting their health needs. Public health communication is required that focuses on the risks of HPV for anal, penile and oropharyngeal cancers and is culturally congruent to tailor and work with GBMSM more effectively for HPV vaccination. Healthcare providers need training around sexual health stigma and should proactively offer the HPV vaccination outside sexual health clinics for this vulnerable group.
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spelling doaj-art-d69f4269a39b4007aecae3cca8ffb1022025-08-20T02:16:13ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2164-55152164-554X2025-12-0121110.1080/21645515.2025.2490440A systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience HPV and HPV vaccinationJanette Pow0Lewis Clarke1Sheona McHale2Carol Gray-Brunton3School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UKSchool of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UKSchool of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UKSchool of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UKThere are suboptimal levels of HPV vaccine uptake among gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM), despite the prevalence and incidence rates of HPV infection among GBMSM being higher than heterosexual males. This systematic review provides a thematic synthesis of qualitative research which examined the perceptions and experiences of GBMSM to HPV vaccine acceptability and explored the barriers and facilitators to participating in HPV vaccination. This review offers new insights about GBMSM understandings of HPV and how they are shaped by a complex relationship between limited knowledge and information of HPV, feminization of HPV with the focus on cervical cancer and women, and the socio-political governmentality of health services in meeting their health needs. Public health communication is required that focuses on the risks of HPV for anal, penile and oropharyngeal cancers and is culturally congruent to tailor and work with GBMSM more effectively for HPV vaccination. Healthcare providers need training around sexual health stigma and should proactively offer the HPV vaccination outside sexual health clinics for this vulnerable group.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2025.2490440Gaybisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)human papillomavirus and HPV vaccinationGBMSM perceptions and views of their experiencecommunicationqualitative
spellingShingle Janette Pow
Lewis Clarke
Sheona McHale
Carol Gray-Brunton
A systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience HPV and HPV vaccination
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Gay
bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)
human papillomavirus and HPV vaccination
GBMSM perceptions and views of their experience
communication
qualitative
title A systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience HPV and HPV vaccination
title_full A systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience HPV and HPV vaccination
title_fullStr A systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience HPV and HPV vaccination
title_full_unstemmed A systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience HPV and HPV vaccination
title_short A systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience HPV and HPV vaccination
title_sort systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring how gay bisexual and other men who have sex with men gbmsm experience hpv and hpv vaccination
topic Gay
bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)
human papillomavirus and HPV vaccination
GBMSM perceptions and views of their experience
communication
qualitative
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2025.2490440
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