Cervical cancer in the Hauts-Bassins region of Burkina Faso: Results of a screening campaign by visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA screening in Burkina Faso)

This study was conducted to describe the distribution of precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix uteri, enumerated during a mass screening in Burkina Faso. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 577 women aged 18 to 60 years, carried out from November 23 to December 19, 2013, in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso and in the rural commune of Bama. Regarding the screening results, 89 participants (15.4%) were positive for pre-malignant cervical lesions. Chi-square testing and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the likelihood of cervical pre-cancer lesion in the women. Participants less than 29 years old were approximately 3 times more likely to have cervical lesions than participants >39 years. Participants who were parous (1-3 deliveries) and multiparous (four or more deliveries) were approximately 4 times more likely to present with cervical lesions than nulliparous women. Access to screening services is low in the Bobo-Dioulasso region. Further research should be conducted to understand the incidence and distribution of cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions in Burkina Faso. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[6]:97-103).

Integrating Cervical Cancer Screening with HIV Care in a District Hospital in Abuja; Nigeria

Human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) women have a higher risk of developing invasive cervical cancer compared with uninfected women. This study aims to document programmatic experience of integrating cervical cancer screening using Visual Inspection and Acetic Acid (VIA) into HIV care as well as to describe patients' characteristics associated with positive VIA findings amongst HIV+ women. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study analysed routine service data collected at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) and cervical cancer screening services. Our program integrated screening for cervical cancer using VIA technique to HIV care and treatment services through a combination of stakeholder engagement; capacity building for health workers; creating a bi-directional referral between HIV and reproductive health (RH) services and provider initiated counselling and screening for cervical cancer. Information on patients' baseline and clinical characteristics were captured using an electronic medical records system and then exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Logistic regression model was used to estimate factors that influence VIA results. Results: A total of 834 HIV+ women were offered VIA screening between April 2010 and April 2011; and 805 (96.5) accepted it. Complete data was available for 802 (96.2) women. The mean age at screening and first sexual contact were 32.0 (SD 6.6) and 18.8 (SD 3.5) years; respectively. VIA was positive in 52 (6.5) women while 199 (24.8) women while 199 (24.8) had a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Of the 199 who had a STI; eight (4.0) had genital ulcer syndrome; 30 (15.1) had lower abdominal pain syndrome and 161 (80.9) had vaginal discharge syndrome. Presence of lower abdominal pain syndrome was found to be a significant predictor of a positive VIA result ( P = 0.001). Women with lower abdominal pain syndrome appeared to be more likely (OR 47.9; 95 CI: 4.8-480.4; P = 0.001) to have a positive VIA result. Conclusion: The high burden of both HIV and cervical cancer in developing countries makes it a necessity for integrating services that offer early detection and treatment for both diseases. The findings from our study suggest that integrating VIA screening into the package of care offered to HIV+ women is feasible and acceptable

Intégration de l'inspection visuelle du col a l'acide acétique dans les services de soins après avortement et de planification familiale au CHU de Bobo-Dioulasso

Objectif : Evaluer l'intégration du dépistage du cancer du col par IVA dans les services de soins après avortement (SAA) et de planification familiale (PF) dans un hôpital universitaire.Méthodologie : L'étude s'est déroulée dans les unités de Soins Après Avortement (SAA) et de planification familiale (PF) du CHU de Bobo Dioulasso au Burkina Faso. Les données ont été collectées rétrospectivement sur les clientes de PAC et de PF ayant bénéficié du dépistage du cancer du col par IVA pendant la période du 1er janvier 2009 au 31 aout 2010. Le personnel des deux unités a également été interrogé sur son point de vue sur l'intégration des services et les difficultés de sa mise en œuvre.Résultats : Le nombre de femmes ayant consulté dans les deux unités pendant la période de l'étude était de 3161. Leurs caractéristiques sociodémographiques étaient les suivantes : âge moyen de 32,8 ans, mariées dans 93,50% des cas, sans profession dans 78,8% ; gestité et parité moyennes respectives de 3,8 et 2,9 et un taux d'utilisation d'une méthode contraceptive de 66,7%. Au total 460 femmes ont bénéficié du dépistage des lésions précancéreuses par l'IVA soit 14,6% des consultantes et 70,2% de ces femmes ont bénéficié du dépistage en plus des soins pour lesquels elles ont consulté. L'IVA a été normal dans la majorité des cas (426 sur 460), positive chez 12 femmes et une IST a été diagnostiquée dans 54 cas (11,7%). Les principales difficultés évoquées par le personnel sont l'insuffisance de personnel formé et les problèmes logistiques.Conclusion : L'intégration du dépistage du cancer du col dans les services de SAA et de PF n'a pas donné les résultats escomptés dans les deux services à savoir l'augmentation de l'accès au dépistage. La formation du personnel, la résolution des problèmes logistiques dans les deux services ainsi qu'une meilleure organisation des soins doivent permettre d'améliorer le taux de dépistage

Comparative Determination of Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride Content in Multi-sourced Chlorpromazine Tablets in Nigeria

Purpose: Although different brands or unbranded chlorpromazine tablets from multiple sources are available in Nigeria today; they must all contain the same active principle and satisfy the standards of quality; efficacy and safety. This study is designed to check for possible faking and adulteration of chlorpromazine tablets and also establish the possibility of inter-brand substitution based on drug content (chemical equivalence). Method: The determination of the chlorpromazine hydrochloride content was carried using non-aqueous titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods. Glacial acetic acid and acetone were used as the non-aqueous solvent and equivalence points were determined using visual indicators and potentiometer. Results: The results obtained showed that all the brands analyzed met the specification of the British Pharmacopoeia and so contain acceptable amounts of chlorpromazine drug content thus enabling possible brand substitution. Statistical comparison showed no significant difference between the results obtained by determining end-point using visual indicators and the potentiometer. Conclusion: The use of the visual indicator method is recommended for fast and accurate routine laboratory analytical work especially in developing nations