Oncogenic human papilloma virus infection among women attending the cytology clinic of a tertiary hospital in Lagos, South-West Nigeria

Background:Cervical cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer and a leading cause of cancer death in women in Nigeria. Persistence infection with high risk or oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types is now known to be a necessary cause of cervical cancer.Methods:This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out to determine the prevalence and distribution of oncogenic HPV infection among women seen at the cytology clinic of a tertiary hospital in Lagos South-west Nigeria and then identify the likely predisposing factors to this infection. Eligible women were selected by consecutive sampling method for the study. Pap smear and endocervical swab samples were collected from each participant. The endocervical swab samples were screened for HPV types 16, 16A, 31, 33 and 35 by the multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using the specific primers for the HPV types.Results: Twenty-four (30.4%) of the 79 tested swab samples were positive for viral DNA of high risk HPV 16. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean ages of participants with positive cervical HPV and those without the infection respectively (34.8 ± 9.9 vs. 46.2 ± 10.1 years; P = 0.028). However, there were no significant differences found between the women with HPV positivity and those without with respect to marital status (P = 0.074), tribe (P = 1.009), religion (P = 0.681) and educational status (P = 0.552). Other identified risk factors that showed statistically significant differences for oncogenic HPV infection were age at sexual debut (P = 0.009), parity (P = 0.003), number of lifetime sexual partner(s) (P = 0.000), use of combined oral contraceptives (P = 0.044), HIV seropositivity (P = 0.000) and smoking (P = 0.033).Conclusion:Cumulative high risk HPV infection is high in Lagos, Nigeria. This thus support the need for routine and early screening of all identified high risk sexually active women for HPV infection in Nigeria, as well as emphasising further the importance of sex education for the girl child in schools and increased awareness for parents towards HPV vaccination for their generally healthy adolescent girls.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine by 7427 Australian women with cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: A cross-sectional study

© 2016 Fisher et al. Background: To assess the prevalence of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort and to detail the pattern of complementary and alternative (CAM) use adopted by women for the treatment of these symptoms. Methods: Data from the 2012 national Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH) cross-sectional survey of 7427 women aged 34-39 years were analysed to estimate the prevalence of endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), irregular or heavy periods and severe dysmenorrhoea and to examine the association between their symptoms and their visits to CAM practitioners as well as their use of CAM therapies and products in the previous 12 months. Results: The prevalence of endometriosis was 3.7 % and of the perimenstrual symptoms assessed, PMS was most prevalent at 41.2 % whilst irregular bleeding (22.2 %), heavy periods (29.8 %) and severe period pain (24.1 %) were reported at lower levels. Women with endometriosis were more likely than non-sufferers to have consulted with a massage therapist or acupuncturist and to have used vitamins/minerals, yoga/meditation or Chinese medicines (p < 0.05). PMS sufferers were more likely to consult with an osteopath, massage therapist, naturopath/herbalist or alternative health practitioner and to have used all forms of CAM therapies except Chinese medicines than women who had infrequent PMS (all p < 0.05). Women with irregular periods did not have different patterns of CAM use from non-sufferers and those with heavy periods did not favour any form of CAM but were less likely to visit a massage therapist or use yoga/meditation than non-sufferers (p < 0.05). For women with severe dysmenorrhoea there was no difference in their visits to CAM practitioners compared to non-sufferers but they were more likely to use aromatherapy oils (p < 0.05) and for more frequent dysmenorrhoea also herbal medicines, Chinese medicines and other alternative therapies compared to non-sufferers (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort amongst women in this age group. Women were using CAM differentially when they had specific symptoms of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort. The use of CAM needs to be properly assessed to ensure their safe, effective use and to ascertain their significance as a treatment option enabling women with menstrual problems and their care providers to improve their quality of life