RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a real public health problem in African countries. The relation between HPV and cervical cancer is well established. However, it is known that the distribution of HPV genotypes differ geographically and this may influence the effectiveness of the three available vaccines, which among other HPV genotypes targets the genotypes 16 and 18 that cause about 70 % of cervical cancers cases. The objective of this study was to identify for the first time the HPV genotypes distribution in cervical cancer specimens obtained from Gabonese women. METHODS: A total of 105 cervical samples including 93 formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissues collected between 2007 and 2013 and 12 fresh biopsies collected in August 2013 were investigated. The presence of HPV DNA was analyzed by nested PCR with primers MY09/11 and GP5+/6+ followed by sequencing for HPV genotyping. RESULTS: Amplification of the housekeeping gene (ß-globin) with PCO4/GH20 primers was successful for 91.4 % (96/105) of the cervical cancer samples and HPV DNA was detected in all the 96 samples. Five different HPV genotypes were identified. HPV 16 [58.3 %; 95 % IC: 48.44-68.16] was the most common genotype followed by HPV 33 [25.0 %; 95 % IC: 16.34-33.66], HPV 18 [8.4 %; 95 % IC: 2.86-13.94], HPV 70 [7.3 %; 95 % IC: 2.1-12.5] and HPV 31 [1.1 %; 95 % IC: -0.986-3.186]. HPV 16 was also the most prevalent in all histological malignant lesions. It was found in 56.6 % of squamous cervical carcinoma and 69.2 % of adenocarcinoma. Concerning the HPV positive adenocarcinoma cases, HPV 18 was identified in 7.7 % (1/13). CONCLUSION: These findings show the predominance of HPV 16 in cervical cancer cases among Gabonese women. However, HPV33 is more prevalent than HPV18. Our study suggests that HPV vaccines may be effective at reducing the burden of cervical cancer in Gabon.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the commonest cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality in women in Gabon. The age-standardized incidence of cervical cancer is 19.9 per 100 000 women and the mortality rate is 8.4 per 100 000. Various international studies have identified the lack of awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer as barriers to use preventive methods. This article assesses the awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer, Pap smear testing and its use and HPV among women living in Libreville, Gabon. METHODS: This study was conducted in October 2014 in Libreville. A total of 452 women aged 16 years and above were recruited from different town locations. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the effect of demographic characteristics on the level of knowledge about cervical cancer, Pap smear testing and HPV. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were used to identify the strength of association. Associations were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of all the women interviewed, 91.6% (414/452) had heard about cervical cancer and only 27.9% (126/452) had heard of Pap smear test. Of these 126 women, only 65.1% (82/126) had done cervical cancer screening and 68.3% (56/82) on the suggestion of a doctor. The most common reason for not undergoing Pap smear testing was neglect (50%, 22/44) followed by lack of financial resources (13.6%, 6/44), fear of discovering a serious disease (13.6%, 6/44) and deeming it unimportant (13.6%, 6/44). Only 8% (40/452) of the participants had heard about HPV and their knowledge of HPV was fair. There is a very poor level of knowledge about cervical cancer among Gabonese women. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a very low level of knowledge about cervical cancer, Pap smear testing and HPV in a sample of Gabonese women. There is a critical need for Gabonese women to be informed about cervical cancer and the Pap smear test to improve the use of this preventive method. The implication of health staff and Gabonese media should be included as a centerpiece in the effort to inform the population in order to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in Gabon and save women lives.
