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Successes and Challenges of Establishing Visual Inspection with Acetic-acid and Cryotherapy Programme for Cervical Cancer Screening in the Gambia

Received: 29 March 2021    Accepted: 19 April 2021    Published: 14 May 2021
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Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer is one of the leading female cancers with slow progression but still remains a major public health problem in developing countries. Each year about 528, 000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed worldwide, with a mortality of about 266 000 and 85% of these deaths occur in developing countries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the successes and challenges of establishing a cervical screening and treatment programme using visual inspection with acetic-acid and cryotherapy in The Gambia. Material and Methods: A qualitative (phenomenological) study designs was used and a total of 6 midwives conducting cervical cancer screening were purposively selected and interviewed on the successes and challenges of establishing cervical cancer screening services in The Gambia. A key informant interview was conducted with the use of an interview guide. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. This study is part of my PhD thesis which is a mixed study method. Results: Midwives interviewed stated that cervical cancer is the leading gynaecological cancer among women in The Gambia and it is on the increase. According to midwives the main successes of the programme is that many women have been screened for cervical cancer and those found positive were offered treatment. Some of the challenges mentioned include shortage of supplies like cotton wool, orange stick, vinegar, and nitrogen gas for cryotherapy as well as inadequate supervision from relevant authorities. Conclusion: The use of VIA and cryotherapy is a viable screening and treatment programme in The Gambia if given the necessary support.

Published in American Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13
Page(s) 39-45
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cervical Cancer, Challenges, Successes, Visual-inspection and Gambia

References
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[3] Mlange R, Matovelo D, Rambau P, and Kidenya B, Patient and disease characteristics associated with late tumour stage at presentation of cervical cancer in northwestern Tanzania, (2016), BMC Women’s Health (2016) 16: 5 DOI 10.1186/s12905-016-0285-7.
[4] Julinawati S, Cawley D, Domegan C, Brenner M and Rowan N. J, A Review of the Perceived Barriers within the Health Belief Model on Pap smear Screening as a Cervical Cancer Prevention Measure, Journal of Asian Scientific Research, 2013, 3 (6): 677-692.
[5] Adefuye, P. O., Broutet, N. J., de Sanjosé, S., & Denny, L. A. Trials and Projects on Cervical Cancer and HPV Prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa Vaccine, (2013). 31, Supplement 5 (0), F53-F59, http://dx.doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.06.070.
[6] Bah E, Carrieri MP, Hainaut P, Bah Y, Nyan O, et al. 20-Years of Population-Based Cancer Registration in Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer Prevention in The Gambia, West Africa, (2013) PLoS ONE 8 (9): e75775. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075775.
[7] Bah Camara H, Anyanwu M, Wright E and Kimmitt P. T, Human Papilloma virus genotype distribution and risk factor analysis amongst reproductive-age women in urban Gambia, Journal of Medical Microbiology 2018; 67: 1645–1654, DOI 10.1099/jmm.0.000848.
[8] National Health Strategic Plan (2014-2020), Ministry of Health, The Gambia.
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[11] Demographic Health Survey (2013), Gambia Bureau of Statistic, Republic of The Gambia.
[12] WHO, Advocacy for cervical cancer prevention and control in Africa: Facilitator Manual. Brazzaville: 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
[13] WHO/ICO, Information Centre on HPV and Cervical Cancer (HPV Information Centre) Human Papillomavir us and Related Cancers in World, Summary Report 2010 [Date accessed] 3/02/16. Available at www.who.int/hpvcentre.
[14] World Health Organization Afro, Information, education and communication for cervical cancer prevention and control in African countries, (2015) Training Guide, Afro Region.
[15] American Cancer Society Cervical Cancer Prevention and Early Detection, (2014) (Internet) www.cancer.org Accessed on the 31/1/16.
[16] Ezeanochie, Preventing Reproductive Tract Cancers in Africa: In, Okonofua FE, Ed, Reproductive health challenges in Africa, September 2014 published Brown Walker Press, USA: ISBN- 10: 1-62734-513-2; ISBN-13: 978-1-62734-513-2, P413-420.
[17] Huchko M. J et al. The time has come to make cervical cancer prevention an essential part of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services for HIV-positive women in low-income countries, Journal of the International AIDS Society 2015, 18 (Suppl 5): 20282 http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/20282http://dx.doi.org/10.7448/IAS.18.6.20282.
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[19] Sarian L. O, et al, Evaluation of VIA (VIA), Lugol’s iodine (VILI), Cervical cytology and HPV testing as cervical screening tools in Latin America, J Med Screen 2005; 12: 142-149.
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  • APA Style

    Baboucarr Cham, Eugene E. Okpere, Chike F. Okolocha, Adama K. M. Demba. (2021). Successes and Challenges of Establishing Visual Inspection with Acetic-acid and Cryotherapy Programme for Cervical Cancer Screening in the Gambia. American Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences, 2(2), 39-45. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13

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    ACS Style

    Baboucarr Cham; Eugene E. Okpere; Chike F. Okolocha; Adama K. M. Demba. Successes and Challenges of Establishing Visual Inspection with Acetic-acid and Cryotherapy Programme for Cervical Cancer Screening in the Gambia. Am. J. Nurs. Health Sci. 2021, 2(2), 39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13

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    AMA Style

    Baboucarr Cham, Eugene E. Okpere, Chike F. Okolocha, Adama K. M. Demba. Successes and Challenges of Establishing Visual Inspection with Acetic-acid and Cryotherapy Programme for Cervical Cancer Screening in the Gambia. Am J Nurs Health Sci. 2021;2(2):39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13,
      author = {Baboucarr Cham and Eugene E. Okpere and Chike F. Okolocha and Adama K. M. Demba},
      title = {Successes and Challenges of Establishing Visual Inspection with Acetic-acid and Cryotherapy Programme for Cervical Cancer Screening in the Gambia},
      journal = {American Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {2},
      pages = {39-45},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajnhs.20210202.13},
      abstract = {Introduction: Cervical cancer is one of the leading female cancers with slow progression but still remains a major public health problem in developing countries. Each year about 528, 000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed worldwide, with a mortality of about 266 000 and 85% of these deaths occur in developing countries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the successes and challenges of establishing a cervical screening and treatment programme using visual inspection with acetic-acid and cryotherapy in The Gambia. Material and Methods: A qualitative (phenomenological) study designs was used and a total of 6 midwives conducting cervical cancer screening were purposively selected and interviewed on the successes and challenges of establishing cervical cancer screening services in The Gambia. A key informant interview was conducted with the use of an interview guide. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. This study is part of my PhD thesis which is a mixed study method. Results: Midwives interviewed stated that cervical cancer is the leading gynaecological cancer among women in The Gambia and it is on the increase. According to midwives the main successes of the programme is that many women have been screened for cervical cancer and those found positive were offered treatment. Some of the challenges mentioned include shortage of supplies like cotton wool, orange stick, vinegar, and nitrogen gas for cryotherapy as well as inadequate supervision from relevant authorities. Conclusion: The use of VIA and cryotherapy is a viable screening and treatment programme in The Gambia if given the necessary support.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Successes and Challenges of Establishing Visual Inspection with Acetic-acid and Cryotherapy Programme for Cervical Cancer Screening in the Gambia
    AU  - Baboucarr Cham
    AU  - Eugene E. Okpere
    AU  - Chike F. Okolocha
    AU  - Adama K. M. Demba
    Y1  - 2021/05/14
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13
    T2  - American Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences
    JF  - American Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences
    JO  - American Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences
    SP  - 39
    EP  - 45
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2994-7227
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajnhs.20210202.13
    AB  - Introduction: Cervical cancer is one of the leading female cancers with slow progression but still remains a major public health problem in developing countries. Each year about 528, 000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed worldwide, with a mortality of about 266 000 and 85% of these deaths occur in developing countries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the successes and challenges of establishing a cervical screening and treatment programme using visual inspection with acetic-acid and cryotherapy in The Gambia. Material and Methods: A qualitative (phenomenological) study designs was used and a total of 6 midwives conducting cervical cancer screening were purposively selected and interviewed on the successes and challenges of establishing cervical cancer screening services in The Gambia. A key informant interview was conducted with the use of an interview guide. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. This study is part of my PhD thesis which is a mixed study method. Results: Midwives interviewed stated that cervical cancer is the leading gynaecological cancer among women in The Gambia and it is on the increase. According to midwives the main successes of the programme is that many women have been screened for cervical cancer and those found positive were offered treatment. Some of the challenges mentioned include shortage of supplies like cotton wool, orange stick, vinegar, and nitrogen gas for cryotherapy as well as inadequate supervision from relevant authorities. Conclusion: The use of VIA and cryotherapy is a viable screening and treatment programme in The Gambia if given the necessary support.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria

  • Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria

  • Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Benin Edo State, Nigeria

  • Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of The Gambia, The Gambia

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