Cervical human papillomavirus infection in accra, Ghana

Abstract

Background: This study was aimed at estimating the human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and its determinants among a sample of Ghanaian women. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Gynaecology outpatient clinic of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana; the largest tertiary care gynaecology outpatient clinic in Ghana. Participants: Convenient sample of 75 consenting women visiting the clinic. Methods: Information was obtained through personal interviews using structured questionnaire, Pap smears obtained, and laboratory testing of cervical exfoliated cells was performed. HPV DNA was detected using a GP5+/6+ polymerase chain reaction assay. These data were analyzed using both univariate and bivariate techniques. Results: The mean age of participants was 33.3 years (standard deviation, 9.2) and the percentage of lifetime monogamy was 21.3%. The crude HPV DNA prevalence was 10.7%. Unlike most populations studied so far, HPV prevalence was high not only among young women, but also in middle and old age. Independent HPV determinants were being illiterate (prevalence odds ratio [POR], 13.9; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.9-100) and reporting more than three lifetime sexual partners (POR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.0-22.2). Conclusions: The study indicates a high crude prevalence of HPV in a largely polygamous Ghanaian population with a high crude prevalence in older age groups, which may be a distinctive feature of polygamous populations where HPV transmission continues into middle age and cervical cancer incidence is very high.

Recommendations for cervical cancer prevention and control in Ghana: public education and human papillomavirus vaccination

“…The vaccine provides immunity to the high-risk oncogenic HPV types that have been found to account for the majority of cervical cancer in Ghana. 2,[30][31][32][33] The nonavalent HPV vaccine prevents infection against nine HPV types (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58). The vaccine has been shown to be efficacious, with an overall estimated rate of prevention of 80% for precancerous lesions, and 90% and cervical cancer.…”

A Qualitative Assessment of the Social Cultural Factors That Influence Cervical Cancer Screening Behaviors and the Health Communication Preferences of Women in Kumasi, Ghana

“…Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in Ghana, West Africa [1, 2]. The cervical cancer mortality rate in Ghana, is nearly three times the global cervical cancer mortality rate [3].…”

“…The Pap test and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) are screening tests that have been proven to be effective at detecting CIN [5–7]. The Pap test, which is a resource intensive method, is available in hospitals and clinics in urban cities in Ghana [1]. VIA does not require laboratory processing, therefore it is available in rural, resource-poor areas in Ghana [5].…”

Reliability of Visual Inspection After Acetic Acid Staining in Screening for Cervical Pre-malignant Lesion Among Female Subjects in a Rural Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

“…[7] The incidence of cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is among the highest worldwide, with the available agestandardized rates ranging from 19.9 per 100,000 in Ibadan, Nigeria, through 35.7 per 100,000 in Bamako, Mali, to 41.7 per 100,000 in Kyadondo, Uganda. [8][9][10][11] While evidence of effective screening programmes can be seen throughout the developed world, the burden and impact of the disease remains high in developing countries, where 85% of the disease-related deaths occur. [12,13] The highest incidence has been observed in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, South central Asia, and Southeast Asia.…”