Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Ghana

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Human Papillomavirus in Ghana
HPV Vaccine

Human Papillomavirus in Ghana; each year about 3,000 Ghanaian women are diagnosed cervical cancer caused by Human Papillomavirus, HPV. It is estimated that 2,000 women die out of the 3000 annually.[1]

Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer among women between the ages of age of 15 to 44 years and a high prevalence rate in Ghana compared to the Western Africa region.[2] 57.8% of Ghanaian women visiting the Korle -Bu Teaching Hospital with gynecological cancer had cervical cancer as well.[3]

According to the Global cancer observatory, cervical cancer is the third highest in cancers in 2020 and among female cancers, recording the second highest number of new cases after breast cancer in Ghana.[4] In an observation of 348 women diagnosed with cervical cancer, almost 60 per cent tested positive for HPV type 16 and 18 which is a causative factor of cervical cancer.

The increasing mortality among women with cervical cancer in Ghana suggests 26 in 100,000 Ghanaian women compared to women in most developed countries.[5][6] 13.9% of pregnant women sampled for a study in the Western Region of Ghana were considered at a high risk HPV positive.[7]

Causes of increasing infection and mortality[edit]

  • To begin with, late diagnosis.[8]
  • Ghana not implementing the cancer control strategy launched in 2015.[9]
  • Limited data available on the local costs and cost-effectiveness of national HPV vaccination in Ghana.[10]
  • Low awareness or lack of knowledge among individuals and some healthcare providers on HPV cancer prevention strategies.[11][12]

Challenges with Screening for HPV in Ghana[edit]

  • Inadequate number of pathologists in Ghana mostly located in the three big cities: Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast and Tamale.[13]
  • The cost of HPV vaccine which is currently pegged between GH¢250 and GH¢500 per dose. The recommended dose to be considered fully vaccinated is  three.[14]

Advancement- Screening and vaccine[edit]

At the moment, Ghana receives significant support for the implementation of the childhood vaccination.[15]

Ghana initiated a pilot of  HPV vaccination among 10–14-year-old girls in selected  regions of the country  between 2013 and 2015. The country is yet to administer the vaccine across the nation.[16]

Africa's Cancer Research Company, Yemaachi  in  February 2022 launched HPV molecular Test in Ghana to enable women screen for cervical cancer at home. This is a pilot initiative in two cities in Ghana, Accra and Kumasi. This would enable women to continently screen themselves, take sample, drop it at the Pharmacy where the kit was purchased and obtain results within 72 hours.[17][18][19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Yemaachi partners The Mirror, Graphic Union ...for cervical cancer awareness". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  2. ^ Krings, Amrei; Dunyo, Priscilla; Pesic, Aleksandra; Tetteh, Saviour; Hansen, Benjamin; Gedzah, Isaac; Wormenor, Comfort M.; Amuah, Joseph E.; Behnke, Anna-Lisa; Höfler, Daniela; Pawlita, Michael (2019-06-27). Adebamowo, Clement A. (ed.). "Characterization of Human Papillomavirus prevalence and risk factors to guide cervical cancer screening in the North Tongu District, Ghana". PLOS ONE. 14 (6): e0218762. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1418762K. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218762. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 6597158. PMID 31246997.
  3. ^ Krings, Amrei; Dunyo, Priscilla; Pesic, Aleksandra; Tetteh, Saviour; Hansen, Benjamin; Gedzah, Isaac; Wormenor, Comfort M.; Amuah, Joseph E.; Behnke, Anna-Lisa; Höfler, Daniela; Pawlita, Michael (2019-06-27). Adebamowo, Clement A. (ed.). "Characterization of Human Papillomavirus prevalence and risk factors to guide cervical cancer screening in the North Tongu District, Ghana". PLOS ONE. 14 (6): e0218762. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1418762K. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218762. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 6597158. PMID 31246997.
  4. ^ "Time to tackle cervical cancer head-on". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  5. ^ "Time to tackle cervical cancer head-on". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  6. ^ Krings, Amrei; Dunyo, Priscilla; Pesic, Aleksandra; Tetteh, Saviour; Hansen, Benjamin; Gedzah, Isaac; Wormenor, Comfort M.; Amuah, Joseph E.; Behnke, Anna-Lisa; Höfler, Daniela; Pawlita, Michael (2019-06-27). Adebamowo, Clement A. (ed.). "Characterization of Human Papillomavirus prevalence and risk factors to guide cervical cancer screening in the North Tongu District, Ghana". PLOS ONE. 14 (6): e0218762. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1418762K. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218762. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 6597158. PMID 31246997.
  7. ^ Schulze, Marco H.; Völker, Fabian M.; Lugert, Raimond; Cooper, Paul; Hasenclever, Kai; Groß, Uwe; Pfister, Herbert; Silling, Steffi (2016-12-01). "High prevalence of human papillomaviruses in Ghanaian pregnant women". Medical Microbiology and Immunology. 205 (6): 595–602. doi:10.1007/s00430-016-0475-9. ISSN 1432-1831. PMID 27601062. S2CID 22628389.
  8. ^ "Time to tackle cervical cancer head-on". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  9. ^ "Time to tackle cervical cancer head-on". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  10. ^ Nartey, Yvonne; Hill, Philip; Amo-Antwi, Kwabena; Asmah, Richard; Nyarko, Kofi; Yarney, Joel; Damale, Nelson; Cox, Brian (2018-07-17). "Recommendations for cervical cancer prevention and control in Ghana: public education and human papillomavirus vaccination". Ghana Medical Journal. 52 (2): 94–102. doi:10.4314/gmj.v52i2.6. ISSN 0016-9560. PMC 6326540. PMID 30662082.
  11. ^ "Time to tackle cervical cancer head-on". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  12. ^ "Save our girls — Vaccinate them against HPV infection". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  13. ^ "Save our girls — Vaccinate them against HPV infection". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  14. ^ "Factors Contributing To Cervical Cancer among Women at Intermediate Hospital Oshakati, Oshana Region, Namibia". Journal of Healthcare and Nursing Research. 3 (1): 1–8. 2021-03-16. doi:10.36266/jhnr/116. ISSN 2694-5789. S2CID 248481556.
  15. ^ "Save our girls — Vaccinate them against HPV infection". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  16. ^ Vodicka, Elisabeth; Nonvignon, Justice; Antwi-Agyei, Kwadwo Odei; Bawa, John; Clark, Andrew; Pecenka, Clint; LaMontagne, D. Scott (2022-03-31). "The projected cost-effectiveness and budget impact of HPV vaccine introduction in Ghana". Vaccine. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Introduction in Low- and Lower-Middle Income Countries: Programmatic Successes and Challenges. 40: A85–A93. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.07.027. ISSN 0264-410X. PMID 34303563. S2CID 236432033.
  17. ^ "Yemaachi Launches HPV Molecular Test in Ghana for At-Home Cervical Cancer Risk Assessment". Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  18. ^ "Yemaachi Launches HPV Molecular Test in Ghana for At-Home Cervical Cancer Risk Assessment". Genomeweb. 2022-02-11. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  19. ^ "Yemaachi partners The Mirror, Graphic Union ...for cervical cancer awareness". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-05-17.