Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer in Ghana.

Background: The major burden of cervical cancer occurs in low- and middle-income countries. In Ghana, it is the second most common cancer among women. Infection with high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) has been established as the cause of cervical cancer.

Errors in manual radiotherapy treatment procedures and their evolution in a low resource setting: Uganda's experience.

Purpose: In Uganda, two-dimensional (2D) radiotherapy treatments have been in use since the establishment of radiotherapy in 1995. Preliminary investigations of treatment records in November 2019 showed evidence of gaps requiring urgent attention. The purpose of this study was to improve the safety of the treatments.

Dose and secondary cancer-risk estimation of patients undergoing high dose rate intracavitary gynaecological brachytherapy.

Dose and secondary cancer risk of the breast and thyroid during high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for 100 gynaecological cancer patients have been estimated. The organ doses were measured using LiF thermoluminescence dosimeters LiF (TLD-100). Patient demographic data (i.

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution among women with and without cervical cancer: Implication for vaccination and screening in Ghana.

Introduction: Determining the high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) genotypes burden in women with and without cervical cancer afford a direct comparison of their relative distributions. This quest is fundamental to implementing a future population-based cervical cancer prevention strategy in Ghana. We estimated the cervical cancer risk by HPV genotypes, and the HPV vaccine-preventable proportion of cervical cancer diagnosed in Ghana.

Geographic Accessibility and Availability of Radiotherapy in Ghana.

Importance: Radiotherapy is critical for comprehensive cancer care, but there are large gaps in access. Within Ghana, data on radiotherapy availability and on the relationship between distance and access are unknown.

Objectives: To estimate the gaps in radiotherapy machine availability in Ghana and to describe the association between distance and access to care.

PATIENT DOSE ASSESSMENT AND OPTIMISATION OF PELVIC RADIOGRAPHY WITH COMPUTED RADIOGRAPHY SYSTEMS.

Digital radiography systems can reduce radiation dose, this capability was harnessed to explore dose and image quality (IQ) optimisation strategies. Entrance surface dose (ESD), effective dose (ED) and organ doses were determined by the indirect method for patients undergoing pelvic anteroposterior X-ray examinations with computed radiography systems. The IQ of patients' radiographs was assessed in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

The Impact of Video-Based Educational Interventions on Cervical Cancer, Pap Smear and HPV Vaccines.

Video-based interventions have the potential to contribute to long-lasting improvements in health-seeking behaviours. Ghana's upsurge rate of information and communication technology usage presents an opportunity to improve the awareness of HPV vaccination and screening rates of cervical cancer among women in Ghana. This research aimed to assess the impact of video-based educational intervention centred on the Health Belief and Transtheoretical Models of behavioural changes in promoting HPV vaccination, cervical carcinoma awareness and willingness to have Pap smear test (PST) among women in Ghana.

Novel coronavirus mitigation measures implemented by radiotherapy centres in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

Background: The aim of the study was to identify strategies adopted by radiotherapy centres in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Studies summarising COVID-19 mitigation strategies designed and implemented by radiotherapy centres in LMICs to avoid delays, deferrments and interruptions of radiotherapy services are lacking.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis guideline.

Outcomes of patients with cervical cancer treated with low- or high-dose rate brachytherapy after concurrent chemoradiation.

Objective: The majority of patients with cervical cancer in Ghana present with locally advanced disease. In October 2014, high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy was introduced at the National Center for Radiotherapy, Accra after years of using low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy. The aim of this study was to compare the treatment outcomes of patients treated with LDR versus HDR brachytherapy.

Knowledge and perception on the transmission and control of SARS-COV-2 infection among allied radiation medicine professionals in Ghana.

Knowledge and perception on transmission and control of SARS-COV-2 infection are key to preventing outbreak of the disease in healthcare settings and in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed the level of knowledge on SARS-COV-2 infection prevention, transmission and symptoms of COVID-19, as well as perceptions regarding prevention of SARS-COV-2 infection among allied radiation medicine professionals. Cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out among 145 radiation medicine professionals in Ghana using facts on COVID-19 as presented on the website of the World Health Organization and data was analyzed based on weighted average indices.

Awareness of Cervical Cancer and Attitude Toward Human Papillomavirus and Its Vaccine Among Ghanaians.

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. Ghana is a low-middle- income country with annual diagnosed cases of 3,151 and 2,119 deaths. The high prevalence rate of cervical cancer in Ghana is mainly due to ineffective preventive measures and insufficient knowledge about the disease.

Quality of life among cervical cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Introduction: There has been an increasing rate of the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in Ghana. Cancer and the treatment's side effects have adverse effects on the patients and this affects patient's well-being and lifestyle during and after radiotherapy. The study sought to assess the impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on Quality of Life (QoL) among cervical cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy in Ghana.

Operational Strategies for Clinical Trials in Africa.

Purpose: In a dramatic reversal of longstanding trends, cancer now kills more Africans than malaria. Despite Africa's growing cancer burden, individuals of African descent, notably those residing in Africa, remain drastically under-represented in cancer clinical trials. Two recent summits-the 1st All Africa Clinical Trial Summit and the Operational Strategy for Clinical Trials in Nigeria Summit-convened experts from governments, the private sector, universities, and professional societies to define the barriers to Africa's participation in multicenter clinical studies and the strategies to eliminate those impedances.

COVID-19 and its ramifications for cancer patients in low-resource settings: Ghana as a case study.

The impact of COVID-19 on healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is a major challenge requiring urgent measures. Cancer care in LMICs, including Ghana, is faced with inadequate numbers of skilled healthcare professionals and essential material resources which negatively impacts the quality of healthcare and wellbeing of patients. In the face of COVID-19, cancer patients are likely to be affected in three key ways: access to healthcare, increased financial toxicity and increased mental health burden as a consequence of strict measures being implemented to contain the virus in Ghana, including partial lockdowns and social distancing.

Establishing a Cancer Registry in a Resource-Constrained Region: Process Experience From Ghana.

Purpose: In a review of cancer incidence across continents (GLOBOCAN 2012), data sources from Ghana were classified as Frequencies, the lowest classification for inclusion, signifying the worst data quality for inclusion in the analysis. Recognizing this deficiency, the establishment of a population-based cancer registry was proposed as part of a broader cancer control plan.

Methods: The registry was examined under the following headings: policy, data source, and administrative structure; external support and training; and definition of geographic coverage.

Sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in schools for people with disabilities.

Introduction: Persons with disabilities have the same sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs as the abled people but they often face barriers to SRH information and services which are necessary for healthy and safe relationships, protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study sought to access the SRH services among adolescents with disabilities in four Special Needs Schools in Ghana.

Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional study design with a quantitative approach to data collection between the months of January to March, 2018.

Comparison of Fluorine(18)-fluorodeoxyglucose and Gallium(68)-citrate PET/CT in patients with tuberculosis.

Unlabelled: F-FDG and Ga-citrate PET/CT have both been shown to be useful in the management of tuberculosis (TB). We compared the abnormal PET findings of F-FDG- and Ga-citrate-PET/CT in patients with TB.

Methods:  Patients with TB on anti-TB therapy were included.

Recommendations for cervical cancer prevention and control in Ghana: public education and human papillomavirus vaccination.

Unlabelled: Globally, cervical cancer is a major public health issue causing increasing morbidity and mortality especially in low- and middle-income countries where preventive and control measures are lacking. In Ghana, it is the most common cancer among women. Approaches to reduce the incidence and mortality of the disease in Ghana have had little success due to lack of accurate data on the disease among other factors, to inform policies on prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

Role of FDG PET/CT in monitoring treatment response in patients with invasive fungal infections.

Introduction: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) occur mostly in immunosuppressed patients and can be life-threatening. Inadequate treatment is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We examined the role of 2-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography integrated with CT (FDG-PET/CT) in monitoring IFIs and therapy decision-making, and evaluated the role of baseline metabolic parameters in predicting the metabolic response.

External Beam Radiation Therapy and Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer: The Experience of the National Centre for Radiotherapy in Accra, Ghana.

Purpose: Most women with cervical cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa present with locally advanced disease. These women require external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy for curative treatment, but data on their outcomes remain sparse. We report data on treatment characteristics, follow-up, toxicity, and cancer outcomes in a large population of patients from the National Centre for Radiotherapy in Accra, Ghana.