Pap Utilization Survey in Nueva Vida, Nicaragua: Professional and Health Promotoras Partnership

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in developing countries and accounted for 84% of the global incidence of cervical cancer in 2012. Nicaragua is one country illustrating this disparity, with an annual cervical cancer mortality six times the U.S. rate. This may be explained by lack and poor utilization of effective screening programs, especially the Papanicolaou, or Pap, smear. This study resulted from a partnership formed by faculty and students from two U.S. universities and a Nicaraguan nonprofit organization to conduct projects to benefit a community in Nicaragua. To promote a free Pap smear program provided by the local clinic, a community-wide survey regarding Pap smear utilization was conducted with local health promotoras (promoters). Of 1,117 women, 78.4% reported ever having a Pap smear, of whom 11.1% had not received their results, while results were reported as normal by 78.9%, and abnormal by 10%. The most common reasons for not having a Pap smear were refusal to test, fear, and pain. Proportions of women who ever had a Pap smear varied by etapa (stage/neighborhood, p \u3c .001). Findings are useful for policy development to improve the clinic’s screening services and encourage full utilization of Pap smears

Pap Smear Utilization Survey through Partnership of Academic, Professional, and Lay Health Workers

Graduate Applie

Pap Utilization Survey in Nueva Vida, Nicaragua: Professional and Health Promotoras Partnership

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in developing countries and accounted for 84% of the global incidence of cervical cancer in 2012. Nicaragua is one country illustrating this disparity, with an annual cervical cancer mortality six times the U.S. rate. This may be explained by lack and poor utilization of effective screening programs, especially the Papanicolaou, or Pap, smear. This study resulted from a partnership formed by faculty and students from two U.S. universities and a Nicaraguan nonprofit organization to conduct projects to benefit a community in Nicaragua. To promote a free Pap smear program provided by the local clinic, a community-wide survey regarding Pap smear utilization was conducted with local health promotoras (promoters). Of 1,117 women, 78.4% reported ever having a Pap smear, of whom 11.1% had not received their results, while results were reported as normal by 78.9%, and abnormal by 10%. The most common reasons for not having a Pap smear were refusal to test, fear, and pain. Proportions of women who ever had a Pap smear varied by etapa (stage/neighborhood, p \u3c .001). Findings are useful for policy development to improve the clinic’s screening services and encourage full utilization of Pap smears

Review of Biosand Water Filters

Diarrhoeal diseases are a global public health burden, killing 1.8 million people annually. Diarrhoea disproportionately affects children and those in poverty. Most diarrhoeal cases can be prevented through safe drinking water and basic hygiene and sanitation measures, with drinking water interventions having the most impact on reducing diarrhoeal disease. A metaevaluation of studies assessing a specific household water treatment method, the biosand water filter, was completed. Results from the meta-evaluation illustrated that biosand water filters improve drinking water quality and reduce diarrhoeal disease. However, short follow-up times and inconsistent measures are a concern. Furthermore, there is no generally accepted field method for determining biosand water filter effectiveness that is useable in low-resource communities. This study adds to understanding of biosand water filters

Biosand Water Filter Evaluation: Pilot Study of Field Use Indicators in Cyegera, Rwanda

Diarrheal diseases are a global public health burden, killing 1.8 million people annually. Diarrhea disproportionately affects children and those in poverty. Most diarrheal cases can be prevented through safe drinking water, basic hygiene and/or sanitation measures, with drinking water interventions having the most impact on reducing diarrheal disease. There is no generally agreed-upon field method for determining biosand water filter effectiveness that is usable in low-resource communities. A pilot study was conducted of potential field use indicators, including the Colilert coliform presence/absence (P/A) test, hydrogen sulfide, alkalinity, hardness, pH, and fluorescently labeled latex microspheres. The study included both laboratory and field testing. The Colilert P/A test had the highest correlation to the United States Environmental Protection Agency standard method (IDEXX Quanti-trays), but more data are needed before making a recommendation. This study adds to understanding about evaluation of biosand water filters and provides preliminary data to address the need for a field use indicator for biosand water filters