The Vaccine and Cervical Cancer Screen (VACCS) project: Acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccination in a school-based programme in two provinces of South Africa

Background. The incidence of cervical cancer in South Africa (SA) remains high, and the current screening programme has had limited success. New approaches to prevention and screening tactics are needed.Objectives. To investigate acceptance of school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, as well as the information provided, methods of obtaining consent and assent, and completion rates achieved.Methods. Information on cervical cancer and HPV vaccination was provided to 19 primary schools in Western Cape and Gauteng provinces participating in the study. Girls with parental consent and child assent were vaccinated during school hours at their schools.Results. A total of 3 465 girls were invited to receive HPV vaccine, of whom 2 046 provided written parental consent as well as child assent. At least one dose of vaccine was delivered to 2 030 girls (99.2% of the consented cohort), while a total of 1 782 girls received all three doses. Sufficient vaccination was achieved in 91.6% of the vaccinated cohort. Of all invited girls, 56.9% in Gauteng and 50.7% in the Western Cape were sufficiently vaccinated.Conclusion. This implementation project demonstrated that HPV vaccination is practical and safe in SA schools. Political and community acceptance was good, and positive attitudes towards vaccination were encountered. During the study, which mimicked a governmental vaccine roll-out programme, high completion rates were achieved in spite of several challenges encountered

The Vaccine and Cervical Cancer Screen project 2 (VACCS 2): Linking cervical cancer screening to a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule in the South-West District of Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa

Background. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease with a high prevalence in South Africa (SA), where screening is opportunistic. Primary prevention is now possible through HPV vaccination. In VACCS 1 the feasibility of linking cervical cancer with HPV vaccination was demonstrated.Objectives. To investigate the feasibility of linking HPV self-testing with a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule and to compare results with VACCS 1.Methods. The project was conducted in five schools in the South-West District of Tshwane, Gauteng, SA. Leaflet information on cervical cancer and screening was provided, with requests for consent and assent for a two-dose HPV vaccination of schoolgirls. Female caregivers were invited to take part in HPV self-screening.Results. Of 965 girls invited for vaccination, 519 (53.7%) had full consent and 518 (99.8%) received at least one vaccine dose. The invited uptake rate was 53.7% and 495 girls received both doses, giving a completion rate of 95.4% v. 82.6% in VACCS 1. Of 1 135 self-screen kits handed out, 560 (49.3%) were not returned. The mean age (standard deviation) of the 160 women who participated in self-screening was 38.7 (7.7) years. HPV testing was negative in 116 women (72.5%), 15 women (9.4%) tested positive for HPV 16 and/or 18, and 27 (16.9%) were positive for non-16/18 oncogenic HPV.Conclusion. Data from the VACCS projects suggest that school-based vaccine programmes can be successfully implemented. A two-dose schedule allowed for higher completion rates. Linking self-collected HPV screening to HPV vaccination is feasible, is a promising and viable screening strategy, and reached the appropriate age group for screening

The Vaccine and Cervical Cancer Screen project 2 (VACCS 2) : linking cervical cancer screening to a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule in the South-West District of Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa

CITATION: Snyman, L. C., et al. 2015. The Vaccine and Cervical Cancer Screen project 2 (VACCS 2) : linking cervical cancer screening to a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule in the South-West District of Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa. South African Medical Journal, 105(3):191-194, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.8888.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaBackground. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease with a high prevalence in South Africa (SA), where screening is opportunistic. Primary prevention is now possible through HPV vaccination. In VACCS 1 the feasibility of linking cervical cancer with HPV vaccination was demonstrated. Objectives. To investigate the feasibility of linking HPV self-testing with a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule and to compare results with VACCS 1. Methods. The project was conducted in five schools in the South-West District of Tshwane, Gauteng, SA. Leaflet information on cervical cancer and screening was provided, with requests for consent and assent for a two-dose HPV vaccination of schoolgirls. Female caregivers were invited to take part in HPV self-screening. Results. Of 965 girls invited for vaccination, 519 (53.7%) had full consent and 518 (99.8%) received at least one vaccine dose. The invited uptake rate was 53.7% and 495 girls received both doses, giving a completion rate of 95.4% v. 82.6% in VACCS 1. Of 1 135 self-screen kits handed out, 560 (49.3%) were not returned. The mean age (standard deviation) of the 160 women who participated in self-screening was 38.7 (7.7) years. HPV testing was negative in 116 women (72.5%), 15 women (9.4%) tested positive for HPV 16 and/or 18, and 27 (16.9%) were positive for non-16/18 oncogenic HPV. Conclusion. Data from the VACCS projects suggest that school-based vaccine programmes can be successfully implemented. A two-dose schedule allowed for higher completion rates. Linking self-collected HPV screening to HPV vaccination is feasible, is a promising and viable screening strategy, and reached the appropriate age group for screening.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaarhttp://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/8888/Publisher's versio

Visual inspection using naked eye and colposcopy as a predictor of high-grade lesions on final histology in HIV-positive and -negative South African women

BACKGROUND: Although potentially preventable, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Women living in resource-limited countries are especially at risk due to poor access to cervical cancer screening and treatment. Alternative cervical cancer screening methodologies have been investigated where cytology-based screening is not feasible. This study aimed to assess the test performance of naked eye visual inspection analysis, in addition to the comparative performance of physician/colposcopist clinical impression to Reid’s colposcopic index (RCI) grading system for histopathology, in the South African setting. METHODS: Women living with HIV (WLWH) and HIV-negative women aged 25 to 65 were recruited from three sites in South Africa. A cross-sectional study which assessed visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), visual inspection with lugols iodine (VILI), colposcopic impression and RCI for the detection of histologically confirmed CIN2+ and CIN3+ was performed. Test positivity rates, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-four WLWH and 409 HIV-negative women, with a median age of 40 years, were included in this analysis. Histologically confirmed CIN2+ was present in 38.51% and CIN3+ in 18.99%. Overall, positive test rates for VIA were 42.76%; VILI were 45.68%, colposcopic impression were 48.26% and RCI were 46.65%. Overall sensitivities/specificities for VIA and VILI for CIN3+ were 76.92/65.25% and 75.52/61.31%, respectively. The sensitivities however increased for WLWH (VIA 82.61%; VILI 80.43%) and decreased in HIV-negative women (VIA 66.67%; VILI 66.67%). Colposcopic impression/RCI performed better in WLWH (PPV 37.96/37.74%) than in HIV-negative women (PPV 25.63/26.80%). CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrates that visual inspection methods perform better in WLWH than in HIV-negative women. VIA and VILI performed similarly within each sub-population, as did colposcopic impression and RCI. The use of visual inspection methods in cervical cancer screening in WLWH is warranted.Roche manufacturer of the cobas HPV DNA test, 1st For Women Foundation, the SU and the UP gynaecological oncology funds.https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/OJGOObstetrics and GynaecologySDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Sentinel lymph node mapping and intraoperative assessment in a prospective, international, multicentre, observational trial of patients with cervical cancer: The SENTIX trial

Background: SENTIX (ENGOT-CX2/CEEGOG-CX1) is an international, multi centre, prospective observational trial evaluating sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy without pelvic lymph node dissection in patients with early-stage cervical cancer. We report the final preplanned analysis of the secondary end-points: SLN mapping and outcomes of intraoperative SLN pathology. Methods: Forty-seven sites (18 countries) with experience of SLN biopsy participated in SENTIX. We preregistered patients with stage IA1/lymphovascular space invasion-positive to IB2 (4 cm or smaller or 2 cm or smaller for fertility-sparing treatment) cervical cancer without suspicious lymph nodes on imaging before surgery. SLN frozen section assessment and pathological ultrastaging were mandatory. Patients were registered postoperatively if SLN were bilaterally detected in the pelvis, and frozen sections were negative. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02494063). Results: We analysed data for 395 preregistered patients. Bilateral detection was achieved in 91% (355/395), and it was unaffected by tumour size, tumour stage or body mass index, but it was lower in older patients, in patients who underwent open surgery, and in sites with fewer cases. No SLN were found outside the seven anatomical pelvic regions. Most SLN and positive SLN were localised below the common iliac artery bifurcation. Single positive SLN above the iliac bifurcation were found in 2% of cases. Frozen sections failed to detect 54% of positive lymph nodes (pN1), including 28% of cases with macrometastases and 90% with micrometastases. Interpretation: SLN biopsy can achieve high bilateral SLN detection in patients with tumours of 4 cm or smaller. At experienced centres, all SLN were found in the pelvis, and most were located below the iliac vessel bifurcation. SLN frozen section assessment is an unreliable tool for intraoperative triage because it only detects about half of N1 cases. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd

The Vaccine and Cervical Cancer Screen (VACCS) project : acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccination in a school-based programme in two provinces of South Africa

CITATION: Botha, M. H. 2015. The Vaccine and Cervical Cancer Screen (VACCS) project : acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccination in a school-based programme in two provinces of South Africa. South African Medical Journal, 105(1):40-43, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.8419.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaBackground. The incidence of cervical cancer in South Africa (SA) remains high, and the current screening programme has had limited success. New approaches to prevention and screening tactics are needed. Objectives. To investigate acceptance of school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, as well as the information provided, methods of obtaining consent and assent, and completion rates achieved. Methods. Information on cervical cancer and HPV vaccination was provided to 19 primary schools in Western Cape and Gauteng provinces participating in the study. Girls with parental consent and child assent were vaccinated during school hours at their schools. Results. A total of 3 465 girls were invited to receive HPV vaccine, of whom 2 046 provided written parental consent as well as child assent. At least one dose of vaccine was delivered to 2 030 girls (99.2% of the consented cohort), while a total of 1 782 girls received all three doses. Sufficient vaccination was achieved in 91.6% of the vaccinated cohort. Of all invited girls, 56.9% in Gauteng and 50.7% in the Western Cape were sufficiently vaccinated. Conclusion. This implementation project demonstrated that HPV vaccination is practical and safe in SA schools. Political and community acceptance was good, and positive attitudes towards vaccination were encountered. During the study, which mimicked a governmental vaccine roll-out programme, high completion rates were achieved in spite of several challenges encountered.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaarhttp://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/8419Publisher's versio

School-based human papillomavirus vaccination : an opportunity to increase knowledge about cervical cancer and improve uptake of screening

CITATION: Dreyer, G., et al. 2015. School-based human papillomavirus vaccination : an opportunity to increase knowledge about cervical cancer and improve uptake of screening. South African Medical Journal, 105(11):912-919, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2015.v105i11.9814.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaBackground. Poor knowledge about cervical cancer plays a role in limiting screening uptake. HPV vaccination provides an untested platform to distribute information that could possibly improve knowledge and screening coverage. Objective. To measure changes in knowledge and screening uptake when information and screening opportunities were provided to mothers of adolescent HPV vaccine recipients. Methods. During an HPV vaccine implementation project in the Western Cape (WC) and Gauteng Province (GP), South Africa, information about cervical cancer was provided to parents during a lecture, written information was distributed, and mothers were then invited to either screen at their clinic (WC) or use a self-screening kit (GP). A structured questionnaire was used to test cervical cancer knowledge and screening practices, comparing these before and after the project and between the two screening groups. Results. Complete data for both questionnaires were available for 777 of 906 recruited women. Initial knowledge was poor, but on retesting 6 months later, knowledge about symptoms (p<0.005), screening (p<0.005) and vaccination (p<0.05) improved significantly after the information session and school-based HPV vaccination. In the second questionnaire, women reported significantly more screening and the last reported screening test was more recent. This improvement was more favourable in GP than in the WC (41% v. 26% reporting screening in the past 12 months). Conclusion. These results demonstrate how adolescent HPV vaccine programmes can help to control cervical cancer among mothers by offering information and screening. It is important not to lose this opportunity to educate mothers and their daughters and offer effective methods to prevent cervical cancer in both generations.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaarhttp://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/9814Publisher's versio