Interventions to increase uptake of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in minority populations: A systematic review.

Minority youth represent a unique population for public health interventions given the social, economic, and cultural barriers they often face in accessing health services. Interventions to increase uptake of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in minority youth have the potential to reduce disparities in HPV infection and HPV-related cancers. This systematic review assesses the effectiveness of interventions to increase HPV vaccine uptake, measured as vaccine series initiation and series completion, among adolescents and young adults, aged 9-26 years old, identifying as a racial and ethnic minority or sexual and gender minority (SGM) group in high-income countries. Of the 3013 citations produced by a systematic search of three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) in November 2018, nine studies involving 9749 participants were selected for inclusion. All studies were conducted in the United States and were published from 2015 to 2018. Interventions utilized education, vaccine appointment reminders, and negotiated interviewing to increase vaccination. Participants were Black or African American (44.4%), Asian (33.3%), Hispanic or Latinx (22.2%), American Indian or Alaska Native (11.1%), and SGM (22.2%). Studies enrolled parent-child dyads (33.3%), parents alone (11.1%), and youth alone (55.6%). Vaccine series initiation ranged from 11.1% to 84% and series completion ranged from 5.6% to 74.2% post-intervention. Educational and appointment reminder interventions may improve HPV vaccine series initiation and completion in minority youth in the U.S. Given the lack of high quality, adequately powered studies, further research is warranted to identify effective strategies for improving HPV vaccine uptake for minority populations.

Medical cannabis for the reduction of opioid dosage in the treatment of non-cancer chronic pain: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Medical cannabis (MC) is currently being used as an adjunct to opiates given its analgesic effects and potential to reduce opiate addiction. This review assessed if MC used in combination with opioids to treat non-cancer chronic pain would reduce opioid dosage. METHODS: Four databases-Ovid (Medline), Psyc-INFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and grey literature-were searched to identify original research that assessed the effects of MC on non-cancer chronic pain in humans. Study eligibility included randomized controlled trials, controlled before-and-after studies, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and case reports. All databases were searched for articles published from inception to October 31, 2019. Cochrane's ROBINS-I tool and the AXIS tool were used for risk of bias assessment. PRISMA guidelines were followed in reporting the systematic review. RESULTS: Nine studies involving 7222 participants were included. There was a 64-75% reduction in opioid dosage when used in combination with MC. Use of MC for opioid substitution was reported by 32-59.3% of patients with non-cancer chronic pain. One study reported a slight decrease in mean hospital admissions in the past calendar year (P = .53) and decreased mean emergency department visits in the past calendar year (P = .39) for patients who received MC as an adjunct to opioids in the treatment of non-cancer chronic pain compared to those who did not receive MC. All included studies had high risk of bias, which was mainly due to their methods. CONCLUSIONS: While this review indicated the likelihood of reducing opioid dosage when used in combination with MC, we cannot make a causal inference. Although medical cannabis' recognized analgesic properties make it a viable option to achieve opioid dosage reduction, the evidence from this review cannot be relied upon to promote MC as an adjunct to opioids in treating non-cancer chronic pain. More so, the optimal MC dosage to achieve opioid dosage reduction remains unknown. Therefore, more research is needed to elucidate whether MC used in combination with opioids in the treatment of non-cancer chronic pain is associated with health consequences that are yet unknown. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This systematic review was not registered.

Antepartum or intrapartum deinfibulation for childbirth in women with type III female genital mutilation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There remains no consensus on the best timing of deinfibulation in women with type III female genital mutilation (FGM). OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic review of the effects of antepartum or intrapartum deinfibulation on childbirth outcomes in women with type III FGM. SEARCH STRATEGY: The following major databases were searched: Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov, from inception until August 2015 without any language restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies of pregnant women or girls with type III FGM who were deinfibulated antepartum or intrapartum were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two team members independently screened and collected data. Quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Summary odds ratios and proportions were calculated when possible. RESULTS: There is no evidence of a significant difference between antepartum and intrapartum deinfibulation for obstetric outcomes such as duration of labor, perineal lacerations, episiotomies, postpartum hemorrhage, and cesarean deliveries. Outcomes in women living with type III FGM and those who have undergone deinfibulation were not statistically different; however, trends show a benefit for deinfibulation. All studies were underpowered to detect statistical differences. CONCLUSION: Larger studies are required to have full confidence in these findings. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42015024464.

Supportive psychotherapy or client education alongside surgical procedures to correct complications of female genital mutilation: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Supportive psychotherapy, in individual or group settings, may help improve surgical outcomes for women and girls living with female genital mutilation (FGM). OBJECTIVES: To assess whether supportive psychotherapy given alongside surgical procedures to correct complications of FGM improves clinical outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched major databases including CENTRAL, Medline, African Index Medicus, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and others. There were no language restrictions. We checked the reference lists of retrieved studies for additional reports of relevant studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included studies of girls and women living with any type of FGM who received supportive psychotherapy or client education sessions alongside any surgical procedure to correct health complications from FGM. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two team members independently screened studies for eligibility. MAIN RESULTS: There were no eligible studies identified. CONCLUSIONS: There is no direct evidence for the benefits or harms of supportive psychotherapy alongside surgical procedures for women and girls living with FGM. Research evidence is urgently needed to guide clinical practice. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: 42015024639.

Deinfibulation for preventing or treating complications in women living with type III female genital mutilation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Deinfibulation is a surgical procedure carried out to re-open the vaginal introitus of women living with type III female genital mutilation (FGM). OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of deinfibulation on gynecologic or obstetric outcomes by comparing women who were deinfibulated with women with type III FGM or women without FGM. SEARCH STRATEGY: Major databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Scopus were searched until August 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included nonrandomized studies that compared obstetric outcomes of women with deinfibulation, type III FGM (not deinfibulated during labor), and no FGM. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Quality of evidence was determined following the GRADE methodology. Summary measures were calculated using odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: We found no randomized controlled trials. We included four case-control studies. The quality of evidence was very low. Compared with women with type III FGM at delivery, deinfibulated women had a significant reduction in the risk of having a cesarean delivery or postpartum hemorrhage. Compared with women without FGM, deinfibulated women had a similar risk of episiotomy, cesarean delivery, vaginal lacerations, postpartum hemorrhage, and blood loss at vaginal delivery. The length of second stage of labor, mean maternal hospital stay, and Apgar scores less than 7 were also comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Low-quality evidence suggests deinfibulation improves birth outcomes for women with type III FGM. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42015024466.

Obstetrician-initiated counseling and testing for HIV infection: a cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the practice of provider-initiated counseling and testing (PICT) for HIV infection by Nigerian Obstetricians and estimate missed opportunities at the gynecological and family planning clinics. METHODS: Online cross-sectional survey of members of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) over a 4-week period using SurveyMonkey®. Frequencies were used to present responses of participants. RESULTS: There were 201 (29%) respondents. Participants' mean age was 46 ± 7.2 (SD) years and majority (93.3%) held consultant positions. Most respondents (92.2%) cared for HIV-infected pregnant women with dedicated HIV counselors (77.4%), and in dedicated counseling rooms (71%). Majority (75.7%) had been trained on HIV management in pregnancy and 95.3% routinely counseled and tested women attending the booking antenatal clinic. Fourteen per cent (14%) and 16% of respondents conducted routine counseling and testing for women attending the gynecological and family planning clinics, respectively, for the first time. For every 100 women tested at the antenatal clinic, 317 women were missed at each of the two clinics. CONCLUSIONS: PICT of HIV infection in Nigeria has focused on pregnancy. To eliminate new HIV infections in children, PICT should be routine at the gynecological and family planning clinics.

Scaling up prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV infection to primary health facilities in Nigeria: findings from two primary health centres in Northwest Nigeria.

Nigeria is scaling up prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV interventions to primary health care centres (PHCs). This retrospective study of PMTCT was at two PHCs in Northwest Nigeria with the main outcome measure being HIV infection rate of exposed infants at 6 weeks of life. Of 10,289 women who had antenatal HIV test, 74 had positive results. This gave a prevalence of 0.7%. The uptake of antenatal (99.8%) and intrapartum (97.3%) tests was high at both centres. 30% of HIV infected mothers and 25% of exposed infants were lost to follow-up (LFU). Most women (85.7%) had highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and vaginal delivery (98%). Perinatal mortality rate was 66/1000 births and 95.3% of exposed infants had negative HIV-DNA polymerase reaction test at 6 weeks of life. Despite a high LFU, a new vista has been opened to attaining a zero infection rate.