Cervical precancer screening using self-sampling, HPV DNA testing, and mobile colposcopy in a hard-to-reach community in Ghana: a pilot study.

Background: The World Health Organization has set ambitious goals to eliminate cervical cancer, necessitating evidence on increasing coverage and access to screening and treatment in high-burden areas. We implemented a pilot program to assess the feasibility of obtaining self-collected specimens for high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) testing in Nzulezo stilt village, a hard-to-reach community in Ghana, and inviting only hr-HPV-positive women to a central location for colposcopy and possible treatment. Subsequently, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hr-HPV infection and cervical lesions among the women and to explore factors potentially associated with hr-HPV infection among them.

Expanding management strategies for cervical precancerous lesions in resource-limited settings: insights from a training center in a district hospital in Ghana.

Background: Cervical cancer continues to disproportionately burden women in low/middle-income countries like Ghana. We examined treatment patterns and histopathological outcomes among women screened using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and/or mobile colposcopy who subsequently underwent thermal ablation, large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ), or cold knife conization at the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre, Battor. We also assessed the prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ (CIN2+) or micro-invasive disease and their associated factors for women who underwent excisional treatments.

HPV DNA Testing and Mobile Colposcopy for Cervical Precancer Screening in HIV Positive Women: A Comparison Between Two Settings in Ghana and Recommendation for Screening.

Introduction: Women living with HIV (WLHIV) have higher prevalence and persistence rates of high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) infection with a six-fold increased risk of cervical cancer. Thus, more frequent screening is recommended for WLHIV.

Objectives: This retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate and compare the prevalence of hr-HPV infection and abnormal findings on mobile colposcopy in two cohorts of WLHIV following cervical screening in rural and urban settings in Ghana.

Tritesting in Battor, Ghana: an integrated cervical precancer screening strategy to mitigate the challenges of multiple screening visits and loss to follow-up.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is more sensitive than cytology for detecting cervical precancer; however, increasing reports of high-risk HPV (hr-HPV)-negative cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and even malignancy motivate the use of combined testing. We present our experience with 'tritesting', defined as the performance of HPV DNA testing, cytology and visual inspection in a single session at the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre, Ghana. We further determined the prevalence rates of hr-HPV infection, abnormal cytology and cervical lesions among women screened using tritesting.

Transformation zone types: a call for review of the IFCPC terminology to embrace practice in low-resource settings.

Most cervical cancers develop in the transformation zone (TZ). Type 3 TZs, where the full circumference of the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) is not visible pose problems during cervical screening with visual inspection methods, as (pre)cancerous lesions may be missed. Several practical strategies can be implemented to convert type 3 TZs into TZ 1 or TZ 2, including the use of an endocervical speculum or hygroscopic cervical dilators, opening the vaginal speculum more widely, skillful use of cotton-tipped applicators, performing colposcopy in midcycle, and use of oral or vaginal misoprostol and estrogen to 'ripen' the cervix.

Antenatal and postnatal cervical precancer screening to increase coverage: experience from Battor, Ghana.

Background: Cervical precancer screening in low-resource settings is largely opportunistic with low coverage. Many women in these settings, where the burden of cervical cancer is highest, only visit health institutions when pregnant or after delivery. We explored screening during antenatal and postnatal visits aimed at increasing coverage.

Self-sampling and HPV DNA testing for cervical precancer screening in a cohort of nuns in Ghana: a cross-sectional cohort study.

Background: The need for cervical cancer screening has been emphasised in at-risk cohorts of women to reduce their risk of cervical cancer. Some women with decreased risk of acquiring human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, such as Catholic nuns, receive less attention and on occasion are missed in cervical cancer screening programmes. This study aimed to determine the high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) prevalence in such a cohort to emphasise the need for cervical precancer screening among all women.

Evaluating operational parameters of the careHPV, GeneXpert, AmpFire, and MA-6000 HPV systems for cervical precancer screening: Experience from Battor, Ghana.

In response to calls by the World Health Organization for cervical precancer screening services in low-resource settings to lean toward HPV DNA testing, a number of testing platforms have been made available. This study aimed to evaluate the operational parameters of four HPV testing systems in previous (careHPV) and current (GeneXpert, AmpFire, and MA-6000) use in a secondary healthcare setting in terms of 'appropriateness', ease of use, throughput, and diagnostic yield. This descriptive retrospective cohort analysis included 6056 women who presented to our facility between June 2016 and March 2022 for cervical precancer screening via HPV testing.

Cervical precancer screening with HPV DNA testing and mobile colposcopy in women with sickle cell disease in Accra, Ghana.

Background: Worldwide, about 20-25 million people are affected by sickle cell disease (SCD), with 60% of patients living in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite recent therapeutic advancements resulting in improved life expectancy among SCD patients, the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) and cervical lesions have not been studied in women with SCD. We determined the prevalence of hr-HPV and cervical lesions among women with SCD and recommended strategies for reducing cervical cancer incidence in this cohort.

Application of the hub and spokes model in improving access to cervical cancer screening in Ghana.

Objective: To examine the contribution of lower-level health facilities in increasing access to cervical cancer screening in the North Tongu District.

Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre (CCPTC) of the Catholic Hospital, Battor, served as the hub, and six health facilities (3 health centres and 3 CHPS compounds) served as the spokes.

Concurrent HPV DNA testing and a visual inspection method for cervical precancer screening: A practical approach from Battor, Ghana.

Cytology-based cervical cancer screening programs have been difficult to implement and scale up in developing countries. Thus, the World Health Organization recommends a 'see and treat' approach by way of hr-HPV testing and visual inspection. We aimed to evaluate concurrent HPV DNA testing and visual inspection in a real-world low-resource setting by comparing the detection rates of concurrent visual inspection with dilute acetic acid (VIA) or mobile colposcopy and hr-HPV DNA testing to standalone hr-HPV DNA testing (using the careHPV, GeneXpert, AmpFire, or MA-6000 platforms).

Comparison of the AmpFire and MA-6000 polymerase chain reaction platforms for high-risk human papillomavirus testing in cervical precancer screening.

High-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) testing for primary cervical precancer screening offers an opportunity to improve screening in low-middle income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to compare the analytic performances of the AmpFire and MA-6000 platforms for hr-HPV DNA testing in three groups of women screened for hr-HPV types in Ghana: group 1 with 33 GeneXpert-archived ThinPrep/liquid-based samples subjected to both tests, group 2 with 50 AmpFire-archived dry brush samples subjected to MA-6000 testing, and group 3 involving 143 cotton swab samples simultaneously subjected to both tests without archiving. The overall agreement rates were 73 %, 92 %, and 84 %, for groups 1-3, respectively, and 84 % (95 % CI, 78.

Quality assurance in cytology reporting in Ghana: an urgent call.

Introduction: In Ghana, the Papanicolaou (PAP) smear remains central to cervical cancer screening although human papilloma virus testing is recommended. The success of the PAP smear however depends on stringent quality processes. Unfortunately, PAP smear reporting in Ghana is uncoordinated with no clear quality guidelines.

A revolution in cervical cancer prevention in Ghana.

Though cervical cancer is largely preventable, success depends on sustained screening and treatment of precancer. This is not available in many low resource settings where screening and treatment services are not available due to a lack of government support. Our vision of setting up a comprehensive cervical cancer prevention scheme across Ghana that offers services tailored to fit every patient's needs, and relies on task shifting has been made possible through the setting up of the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre (CCPTC) to train and equip middle cadre staff (mostly nurses and midwives) to provide crucial cervical precancer screening and treatment services in many areas of the country that have never seen any such screening activities.

Raising Funds Through Social Media to Subsidise Cervical Cancer Screening with HPV Testing in Rural Ghana-The Battor Experience.

Over 260,000 women die yearly from cervical cancer, mostly in low and middle-income countries. Molecular testing for high-risk Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is now the method of choice for cervical cancer screening. A limiting factor for HPV testing, however, is the cost in setting up and running the tests.

Determining the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection using a novel cervical precancer screening approach in incarcerated women at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, Ghana.

Background: Across Ghana, females comprise 1.2% of the entire prison population ( = 15,463). Cervical cancer screening services are however nonexistent and the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) and cervical precancer is undocumented.

Female health-care providers' advocacy of self-sampling after participating in a workplace program for cervical cancer screening in Ghana: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Ghanaian women and screening coverage is low. ACCESSING is a cross-sectional study investigating human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence via self-sampling in rural communities of the North Tongu district in Ghana. Female health-care providers (HCPs) were invited to self-collect a cervicovaginal sample with a commercial sampler in order to acquaint themselves with the sampling method.

Characterization of Human Papillomavirus prevalence and risk factors to guide cervical cancer screening in the North Tongu District, Ghana.

Introduction: This population-based study aimed to fill the knowledge gap on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and associated sociodemographic risk factors of the general population in the North Tongu District, Ghana. These results are needed to guide cervical cancer prevention efforts, as the leading type of female cancers.

Methods: A cross-sectional study including 2002 women in the North Tongu District, Ghana investigated HPV prevalence and associated sociodemographic risk factors.

Dynamics of genotype-specific HPV clearance and reinfection in rural Ghana may compromise HPV screening approaches.

Persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a prerequisite for cervical cancer development. Few studies investigated clearance of high-risk HPV in low-and-middle-income countries. Our study investigated HPV clearance and persistence over four years in women from North Tongu District, Ghana.