American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 196, Issue 4 , Pages 407.e1-407.e9, April 2007

Cervical cancer prevention: safety, acceptability, and feasibility of a single-visit approach in Accra, Ghana

Presented at the 25th Annual Meeting of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, Williamsburg, Va, Sept. 14-16, 2006.

  • Paul D. Blumenthal, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
    • JHPIEGO, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
    • ,
  • Lynne Gaffikin, DrPH

      Affiliations

    • JHPIEGO, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
    • ,
  • Sylvia Deganus, MB, ChB

      Affiliations

    • Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana.
    • ,
  • Robbyn Lewis, MPH

      Affiliations

    • JHPIEGO, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
    • ,
  • Mark Emerson, MA

      Affiliations

    • Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
    • ,
  • Sydney Adadevoh, MD

      Affiliations

    • JHPIEGO, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
    • ,
  • Ghana Cervicare Group

Received 10 November 2006; accepted 18 December 2006.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and acceptability of a single-visit approach to cervical cancer prevention combining visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid wash (VIA) and cryotherapy.

Study Design

The study was observational. Nine clinicians were trained in VIA and cryotherapy. Over 18 months 3665 women were VIA-tested. If positive and eligible, cryotherapy was offered immediately. Treated women were followed-up at 3 months and 1 year.

Results

The test-positive rate was 13.2%. Of those eligible, 70.2% and 21% received immediate or delayed treatment, respectively. No major complications were recorded, and 5.6% presented for a perceived problem post-cryotherapy. Among those treated over 90% expressed satisfaction with their experience, and 96% had an indentifiable squamo-columnar junction. Only 2.6% (6/232) were test positive, 1-year posttreatment.

Conclusion

A single-visit approach using VIA and cryotherapy proved to be safe, acceptable, and feasible in an urban African setting.

Key words: cervical cancer prevention, cervical cancer screening, cryotherapy, visual inspection

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 Cite this article as: Blumenthal PD, Gaffikin L, Deganus S, et al. Cervical cancer prevention: safety, acceptability, and feasibility of a single-visit approach in Accra, Ghana. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007;196;407.e1-407.e9.Funding was provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention.Reprints will not be available from the authors.

PII: S0002-9378(06)02473-2

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2006.12.031

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 196, Issue 4 , Pages 407.e1-407.e9, April 2007

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