Jose Luis Camarena Jr.

US-Mexico HPV Vaccination Uptake & Hesitancy Qualitative AI Project

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection
(STI) in the nation despite a vaccine with proven safety and effectiveness for administration to
youth and adolescents. HPV vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., cervical cancer) and
morbidities have been shown to be higher in counties along the US-Mexico border. 

The objective of this project is to compare human interpretive thematic analysis with different
artificial intelligence (AI) models in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties of Arizona in relation to
HPV vaccination uptake and hesitancy. Transcripts from 22 community listening sessions
obtained from parents and their adolescent children and 13 key informant interviews from
public health officials and service providers will be used to identify themes and culturally
sensitive nuances related to barriers and facilitators of HPV vaccination uptake and hesitancy.
This project will shed light on the effectiveness, practicality, and ethical use of AI in
epidemiological qualitative research.

This project will contribute to Jose Luis' academic, professional, and creative growth in the
form of giving him training in thematic analysis and the use of AI in public health research. This
project will be ancillary to his dissertation project on HPV vaccination uptake along the US-
Mexico border and will integrate an AI component to already existing work. Jose Luis dissertation is
part of the CDC-funded Arizona Vaccine Integration and Vaccine Implementation (AZ-VIVIR)
study which will analyze the uptake of various vaccine types and evaluate an intervention to
enhance vaccine uptake along the US-Mexico border. Populations residing near the border face
particular challenges related to STIs due to the unique economic and social impacts of the
region. This project would increase knowledge on HPV vaccination uptake and hesitancy in
border regions of Arizona.