Title |
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
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Published in |
South African Medical Journal, February 2015
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DOI | 10.7196/samj.8888 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Leon C Snyman, Greta Dreyer, Cathy Visser, Matthys H Botha, Frederick H Van der Merwe |
Abstract |
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. To investigate the feasibility of linking HPV self-testing with a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule and to compare results with VACCS 1. 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. 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. 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. |
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Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Tanzania, United Republic of | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 77 | 99% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Master | 14 | 18% |
Researcher | 12 | 15% |
Student > Bachelor | 8 | 10% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 6 | 8% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 6 | 8% |
Other | 10 | 13% |
Unknown | 22 | 28% |
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Psychology | 4 | 5% |
Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 3 | 4% |
Other | 9 | 12% |
Unknown | 23 | 29% |