The performance of single and combination test strategies using visual inspection, cytology, high-risk HPV DNA and HPV16/18 to screen South African women with and without HIV-infection.

Background: Cervical cancer screening strategies should ideally be informed by population-specific data. Strategies recommended for secondary prevention, are often inadequately studied in populations with high cervical disease burdens. This report describes the test performance measured against CIN2 + /CIN3 + histology in HIV-positive women (HPW) and HIV-negative women (HNW) with the aim to determine the most effective strategies to identify South African women at risk.

Cytology compared with Hybrid Capture 2 human papilloma virus cervical cancer screening in HIV positive and HIV negative South African women.

Objectives: Cervical cancer is preventable and caused by persistent infection with oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) types. HPV screening is more sensitive and is the preferred screening test. HPV screening data are mainly from developed settings, and the purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of HPV screening in previously unscreened HIV positive and negative women.

Validation of ASCL1 and LHX8 Methylation Analysis as Primary Cervical Cancer Screening Strategy in South African Women with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: Compared with women who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative, women with human immunodeficiency virus (WWH) have a higher human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and increased cervical cancer risk, emphasizing the need for effective cervical cancer screening in this population. The present study aimed to validate methylation markers ASCL1 and LHX8 for primary screening in a South African cohort of WWH.

Methods: In this post hoc analysis within the DIAgnosis in Vaccine And Cervical Cancer Screen (DiaVACCS) study, a South African observational multicenter cohort study, cervical scrape samples from 411 HIV-positive women were analyzed for hypermethylation of ASCL1 and LHX8 genes, HPV DNA, and cytology.

Health Care Provider Perceptions of Facilitators and Barriers to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Delivery in Five Countries.

Background: National human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs could reduce global cervical cancer morbidity and mortality with support from health care providers. We assessed providers' perceptions of HPV vaccination in 5 countries.

Methods: We identified providers from 5 countries where national HPV vaccination programs were at various stages of implementation: Argentina, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain.

The use of molecular markers for cervical screening of women living with HIV in South Africa.

Objective: To determine the performance of molecular screening strategies for detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or worse (CIN3+) in comparison with cytology screening in women living with HIV.

Design: Post-hoc analysis using data from a South African study cohort.

Methods: Cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV)-based strategies were evaluated, including single test and FAM19A4/miR124-2 methylation triage strategies.

Acceptability of two- versus three-dose human papillomavirus vaccination schedule among providers and mothers of adolescent girls: a mixed-methods study in five countries.

Purpose: The World Health Organization revised its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination recommendations to include a two (2-) dose schedule for girls aged ≤ 15 years. We investigated acceptability of 2- versus 3-dose schedule among adolescent vaccination providers and mothers of adolescent girls in five countries.

Methods: Adolescent vaccination providers (N = 151) and mothers of adolescent girls aged 9-14 years (N = 118) were recruited from Argentina, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain.

Detection of hypermethylated genes as markers for cervical screening in women living with HIV.

Introduction: To evaluate the performance of hypermethylation analysis of ASCL1, LHX8 and ST6GALNAC5 in physician-taken cervical scrapes for detection of cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3 in women living with HIV (WLHIV) in South Africa.

Methods: Samples from a prospective observational cohort study were used for these analyses. Two cohorts were included: a cohort of WLHIV who were invited for cervical screening (n = 321) and a gynaecologic outpatient cohort of women referred for evaluation of abnormal cytology or biopsy proven cervical cancer (n = 108, 60% HIV seropositive).

HPV Vaccination Recommendation Practices among Adolescent Health Care Providers in 5 Countries.

Study Objective: To assess adolescent health care providers' recommendations for, and attitudes towards human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in 5 countries.

Design: In-depth interviews of adolescent health care providers, 2013-2014.

Setting: Five countries where HPV vaccination is at various stages of implementation into national programs: Argentina, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain.

Acceptability of multipurpose human papillomavirus vaccines among providers and mothers of adolescent girls: A mixed-methods study in five countries.

Introduction: Multipurpose vaccines (MPVs) could be formulated to prevent multiple sexually transmitted infections simultaneously. Little is known about acceptability of MPVs among vaccine health care providers (HCPs) or mothers of adolescent girls.

Methods: 151 adolescent vaccine providers and 118 mothers of adolescent girls aged 9-14 were recruited from five geographically-diverse countries: Argentina, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain.

Selection of women at risk for cervical cancer in an HIV-infected South African population.

Objective: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women in South Africa. This study evaluates DNA methylation levels in cervical (pre)cancer and aims to assess the value of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing and methylation analysis, alone or in combination, on physician-taken cervical scrapes to detect cervical cancer, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) in an HIV-infected South African population.

Design: Prospective observational multicentre cohort study.

Exposure incidents among medical students in a high-prevalence HIV setting.

Introduction: Occupational injuries in medical students are concerning, especially in countries with a high prevalence of bloodborne infections. With more HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral treatment, appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) depends on knowledge of source patients' infection status and treatment response. This study determined the number and type of exposure incidents, reporting practices, and PEP use among medical students at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Oncogenic and incidental HPV types associated with histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-positive and HIV-negative South African women.

Background: In Africa, data on the relationship between oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types, immune status and cervical preinvasive lesions are lacking.

Methods:  We investigated low-risk (lrHPV) and high-risk (hrHPV) HPV types in a cohort of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II/III confirmed on histological examination, in an urban setting with a high prevalence of HIV infection.

Results:  Of 270 women with confirmed CIN II/III, 45 were HIV-negative and 225 HIV-positive.

Unique human papillomavirus-type distribution in South African women with invasive cervical cancer and the effect of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Objectives: Cervical cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among South African women. Viral types associated with cervical cancer may differ not only between countries and regions, but possibly also between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and noninfected women.

Methods: In a population with high HIV prevalence, human papillomavirus (HPV)-type infections detected with DNA analyses were reported in a cohort of 299 women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer.

Prevalence of oral and oropharyngeal human papillomavirus in a sample of South African men: a pilot study.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is well known to be associated with head and neck cancers (HNCs). HPV-associated HNCs are related to sexual behaviour, particularly the lifetime number of oral sex partners, but the epidemiology of oral and oropharyngeal HPV in South African men has not yet been studied.

Objectives: To determine the oral and oropharyngeal HPV strain prevalence and associated factors in a selected male population in Pretoria, South Africa (SA).

Human papilloma virus types in the oral and cervical mucosa of HIV-positive South African women prior to antiretroviral therapy.

Background: To evaluate the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and types in the oral and cervix mucosa of treatment-naïve HIV-1-positive women with CD4 counts less than 300 cells per ml with no HPV-associated oral lesions.

Methods: Oral epithelium was harvested from the buccal mucosa and lateral borders of the tongue and cervical samples were collected from the endocervical area of 30 women, 22-64 years old. Cytobrush Plus cell collectors were used for sampling both anatomical areas.