Baseline knowledge on risk factors, symptoms and intended behavior of women and men towards screening and treatment of cervical cancer in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer has been found to promote uptake of screening of cervical cancer. Most interventions targeted women without much involvement of men (husbands/decision makers) who are often decision makers in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed at assessing baseline knowledge and intended behavior of both women and men to enable design specific targeted messages to increase uptake of cervical cancer screening and promote early detection of women with symptoms. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two districts in Western Uganda using the modified African Women Awareness of CANcer (AWACAN) questionnaire. Women aged 30-49 years and their husbands/decision makers were interviewed. Knowledge on risk factors and symptoms, intended behavior and barriers towards participation in cervical cancer screening and treatment were assessed. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were done to establish the association between knowledge levels and other factors comparing women to men. RESULTS: A total of 724 women and 692 men were enrolled. Of these, 71.0% women and 67.2% men had ever heard of cervical cancer and 8.8% women had ever been screened. Knowledge of risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer was high and similar for both women and men. Lack of decision making by women was associated with low knowledge of risk factors (X2 = 14.542; p = 0.01), low education (X2 = 36.05, p < 0.01) and older age (X2 = 17.33, p < 0.01). Men had better help seeking behavior than women (X2 = 64.96, p < 0.01, OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.31-0.50) and were more confident and skilled in recognising a sign or symptom of cervical cancer (X2 = 27.28, p < 0.01, OR = 0.52, CI (0.40-0.67). CONCLUSION: The baseline knowledge for cervical cancer was high in majority of participants and similar in both women and men. Their intended behavior towards screening was also positive but screening uptake was very low. This study suggests developing messages on multiple interventions to promote screening behavior in addition to education, consisting of male involvement, women empowerment and making services available, accessible and women friendly.

High burden of human papillomavirus infection among men in Guangzhou, South China: Implications for HPV vaccination strategies.

The epidemiological and clinical aspects of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women have been extensively studied. However, there is a lack of information regarding HPV characteristics in males. In this study, we conducted a retrospective and observational study of 3737 consecutive male individuals attending outpatient clinics of Guangdong Women and Children Hospital from 2012 to 2023 in Guangzhou, South China, to determine the age- and genotype-specific prevalence of HPV in men. The results showed the overall prevalence of HPV among men was 42.15% (1575/3737), with variations ranging from 29.55% to 81.31% across distinct diagnostic populations. Low-risk HPV6 (15.47%), HPV11 (8.94%), and high-risk HPV52 (5.51%) were the most common types. The annual HPV prevalence decreased significantly (Z = -3.882, p < .001), ranging from 31.44% to 52.90%. 28.77% (1075/3737) of men manifested infection with a singular HPV type, predominantly identified as a low-risk type. The age-specific distribution of HPV infections revealed distinctive peaks in the < 25 y age group (47.60%, 208/437) and the 40-44 y age group (44.51%, 154/346). Notably, the positive rate of Chlamydia trachomatis was significantly higher among HPV-positive individuals in comparison to HPV-negatives (16.14% vs. 11.25%, p < .05). Our findings reveal a substantial prevalence of HPV infection among outpatient men in Guangzhou, South China. It is recommended to consider the inclusion of HPV vaccination for adolescent males in national immunization schedules, once an adequate supply of vaccines is accessible.

Impact of virtual education based on health belief model on cervical cancer screening behavior in middle-aged women: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide and a cause of high mortality among people. Pap smear screening is an appropriate method to prevent cervical cancer and reduce its mortality. AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of web-based education based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on cervical cancer screening behavior in middle-aged women. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study is a quasi-experimental interventional research that was conducted on 240 middle-aged women aged 40-59 years in Isfahan, Iran, in 2022. An online educational intervention based on the constructs of the Health Belief Model was conducted for the intervention group using the Triple-B platform. The information on the intervention and control groups was collected before, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months later using a valid questionnaire. The gathered Data was analyzed using ANOVA and LSD post-hoc, independent samples t test, chi-square, and MANCOVA statistical tests in SPSS 26 software. After the intervention, the mean scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and internal cues to action in the intervention group increased and the mean score of perceived barriers decreased (p < .001). The mean score of the external cues to action did not show a significant difference between the intervention and control groups before, immediately, and 2 months after the intervention. Two months after the intervention, 32 women (26.2%) in the intervention group and two women (1.7%) in the control group performed the Pap smear test. CONCLUSION: Web-based educational intervention based on HBM using different strategies such as question and answer, presentation of infographics, lectures, brainstorming, showing videos and numerous educational images can be an effective way for increasing knowledge and cognitive variables of women and doing Pap smear test.

Willingness of healthcare providers to perform population-based cancer screening: a cross-sectional study in primary healthcare institutions in Tianjin, China.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the willingness of healthcare providers to perform population-based screening in primary healthcare institutions in China. METHODS: Healthcare providers of 262 primary healthcare institutions in Tianjin were invited to fill out a questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics, workload, and knowledge of, attitude towards and willingness to perform breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening. Willingness to screen was the primary outcome. Multilevel logistic regression models were conducted to analyse the determinants of healthcare providers' willingness to screen. ORs and 95% CIs were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 554 healthcare providers from 244 institutions answered the questionnaire. 67.2%, 72.1% and 74.3% were willing to perform breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening, respectively. A negative attitude towards screening was associated with a low willingness for cervical (OR=0.27; 95% CI 0.08, 0.94) and colorectal (OR=0.08; 95% CI 0.02, 0.30) cancer screening, while this was not statistically significant for breast cancer screening (OR=0.30; 95% CI 0.08, 1.12). For breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening, 70.1%, 63.8% and 59.0% of healthcare providers reported a shortage of staff dedicated to screening. A perceived reasonable manpower allocation was a determinant of increased willingness to perform breast (OR=2.86; 95% CI 1.03, 7.88) and colorectal (OR=2.70; 95% CI 1.22, 5.99) cancer screening. However, this was not significant for cervical cancer screening (OR=1.76; 95% CI 0.74, 4.18). CONCLUSIONS: In China, healthcare providers with a positive attitude towards screening have a stronger willingness to contribute to cancer screening, and therefore healthcare providers' attitude, recognition of the importance of screening and acceptable workload should be optimised to improve the uptake of cancer screening.

Early age at menarche and history of sexually transmitted infections significantly predict cervical cancer screening uptake among women aged 25-49 years: evidence from the 2021 Côte d'Ivoire demographic and health survey.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is the second dominant type of cancer among Ivorian women with an estimated age-standardised incidence and mortality rate of 31.2 cases and 22.8 deaths per 100,000 women in 2020, respectively. The Ivorian government through its Ministry of Health implemented the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) in 2003 with the aim of improving the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancers in Côte d'Ivoire. Yet, there is a low uptake of CCS (1.2%). Thus, making CCS uptake an important public health concern in the country. Understanding of the extent to which reproductive factors predict CCS uptake is limited in literature. This study aimed to investigate reproductive factors as a predictor of women's uptake of CCS in Côte d'Ivoire. METHODS: Data from the 2021 Côte d'Ivoire Demographic and Health Survey. A sample of 9,078 women aged 25-49 years were analyzed. The outcome variable was CCS uptake while other variables considered included age at menarche, history of STI, sexual debut, parity, age, educational level, wealth index, health insurance, place of residence, and media exposure. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to examine the association between the outcome of interest and predictors at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Approximately, 7.52% of women aged 25-49 years had ever undergone testing for cervical cancer by a healthcare provider. Early menarche was associated with lower odds of CCS uptake [AOR = 0.78; CI = 0.65-0.95]. Compared to those who had no STI, women with a history of STI were more likely to screen for cervical cancer [AOR = 2.63; CI = 2.02-3.42]. Increasing age, higher educational attainment, having health insurance, and being exposed to media were significantly associated with CCS uptake. CONCLUSION: In Cote d'Ivoire, age at menarche and STI history constitute reproductive factors that were significantly associated with women's uptake of CCS. It is imperative for public policy to focus on increasing CCS in these higher-risk women (i.e., women who experienced early menarche, women with early sexual debut and higher parity) through increased sensitization on cervical cancer risk factors.

Cervical cancer screening among women with comorbidities: evidence from the 2022 Tanzania demographic and health survey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to examine cervical cancer screening (CCS) uptake among women living with hypertension and HIV in Tanzania. METHODS: We used the recently released 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variable assessed in the study was CCS, whereas chronic morbidities constituted the main explanatory variable. Data analysis was based on observations from 6,298 women aged 30-49 years. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association between hypertension and HIV status, and CCS uptake. The analyses were computed in STATA 18. RESULTS: Out of the 6,298 respondents, only 805 (12.8%) had undergone CCS with higher screening uptake among those living with either one of the disease (28.5%) than among those living with neither hypertension or HIV. The highest proportion was found among those who had ever been diagnosed with hypertension (24.1%) and among women with positive HIV test results (36.7%). There was a significantly higher likelihood of undergoing screening for cervical cancer among women living with at least one of the diseases [AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4-2.8], compared to those without these conditions. Women diagnosed with hypertension showed increased likelihood of undergoing CCS [AOR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.1-1.7]. Similarly, women with a positive HIV test result demonstrated higher odds of screening uptake [AOR = 5.2; 95%CI: 4.0-6.7]. CONCLUSION: The study found a positive association between comorbidities and CCS uptake in Tanzanian women. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of ensuring accessibility and adherence to essential screenings for individuals with chronic morbid conditions. Future efforts should focus on strengthening existing integrated services and identifying potential barriers to accessing CCS within these healthcare settings to optimize cervical cancer prevention efforts for individuals with chronic morbidities.

Listeria-vectored cervical cancer vaccine candidate strains reduce MDSCs via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressive status is prevalent in cancer patients and increases the complexity of tumor immunotherapy. It has been found that Listeria-vectored tumor vaccines had the potential ability of two-side regulatory effect on the immune response during immunotherapy. RESULTS: The results show that the combined immunotherapy with the LM∆E6E7 and LI∆E6E7, the two cervical cancer vaccine candidate strains constructed by our lab, improves the antitumor immune response and inhibits the suppressive immune response in tumor-bearing mice in vivo, confirming the two-sided regulatory ability of the immune response caused by Listeria-vectored tumor vaccines. The immunotherapy reduces the expression level of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)-inducing factors and then inhibits the phosphorylation level of STAT3 protein, the regulatory factor of MDSCs differentiation, to reduce the MDSCs formation ability. Moreover, vaccines reduce the expression of functional molecules associated with MDSCs may by inhibiting the phosphorylation level of the JAK1-STAT1 and JAK2-STAT3 pathways in tumor tissues to attenuate the immunosuppressive function of MDSCs. CONCLUSIONS: Immunotherapy with Listeria-vectored cervical cancer vaccines significantly reduces the level and function of MDSCs in vivo, which is the key point to the destruction of immunosuppression. The study for the first to elucidate the mechanism of breaking the immunosuppression.

Knowledge about cervical cancer in young Portuguese women: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Health literacy is crucial to adherence to medical interventions in therapeutics, prevention, and diagnosis. The basis for literacy is knowledge. To accomplish the goals for the elimination of cervical cancer, one of the most prevalent and preventable cancers, we must understand the determinants of non-adherence and address them specifically to ensure patients' active participation. Aim: To determine women's knowledge regarding the manifestations of cervical cancer and its prevention. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in an urban population from northern Portugal. Women aged 18 to 30 years were randomly assigned to answer the Cervical Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire, including questions of knowledge about the causes and symptoms of cervical cancer, prospecting for individual and social-related determinants. Results: The total number of participants was 270, with a mean age of 24.7 years. Knowledge about symptoms scored 5.4 ± 2.6, with a maximum of 12 points, and knowledge about the causes scored 5.7 ± 1.9, with a maximum of 11 points. The correlation between both was 0.334. High education, high socio-economic status, self-perception of one's capacity to recognize symptoms, and knowledge about the HPV vaccine were associated with better knowledge. Discussion: Portuguese women present low knowledge about cervical cancer, potentially affecting their health through exposure to risk situations and non-adherence to routine screening.

Opportunities and challenges for human papillomavirus vaccination in China.

Current estimates of the HPV infection rate in China vary by geographic region (9.6-23.6%), with two age peaks in prevalence in women ≤20-25 years of age and 50-60 years of age. HPV-16, 52 and 58 are the most commonly-detected HPV genotypes in the Chinese population. In China, five HPV vaccines are licensed and several others are undergoing clinical trials. Multiple RCTs have shown the efficacy and safety of the bvHPV (Cervarix), Escherichia coli-produced bvHPV (Cecolin), Pichia pastoris-produced bvHPV (Walrinvax), qvHPV (Gardasil) and 9vHPV (Gardasil-9) vaccines in Chinese populations, including two studies showing long-term efficacy (≥8 years) for the bvHPV and qvHPV vaccines. Real-world data from China are scarce. Although modeling studies in China show HPV vaccination is cost-effective, uptake and population coverage are relatively low. Various policies have been implemented to raise awareness and increase vaccine coverage, with the long-term aim of eliminating cervical cancer in China.

Characterization of human papillomavirus genotypes and their coverage in vaccine delivered to Ethiopian women.

Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern in Ethiopia. It is mainly caused by persistent infection with the human papillomaviruses. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between carcinogenic risk of probable, possible and low risk HPV infection and those of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer. A cross sectional study nested from prospective cohort study was conducted in Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSSversion 26.0. HPV-16 was associated with a relatively higher risk of CIN II+, (AOR = 15.42; 95% CI 6.81-34.91). In addition, HPV-52, -18, -53 and -58, were significantly associated with an increased risk of CIN II+, (AOR = 7.38 (1.73-31.54), 5.42 (1.61-18.31), 4.08 (1.53-10.87), and 3.17 (1.00-10.03)), respectively. The current study shows high rate of HPV with predominance of HPV-16, -53, -58, -18, -35, and -52. The quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccine had only covered 27.1% and 45% of the circulating HPV genotypes. Ethiopia may need to consider introduction of nonavalent vaccine into the national public health strategy. Polyvalent vaccine which includes the genotypes not covered by existing approved vaccines should be considered.

HPV and Cervical Cancer: Molecular and Immunological Aspects, Epidemiology and Effect of Vaccination in Latin American Women.

Cervical cancer is primarily caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and remains a significant public health concern, particularly in Latin American regions. This comprehensive narrative review addresses the relationship between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, focusing on Latin American women. It explores molecular and immunological aspects of HPV infection, its role in cervical cancer development, and the epidemiology in this region, highlighting the prevalence and diversity of HPV genotypes. The impact of vaccination initiatives on cervical cancer rates in Latin America is critically evaluated. The advent of HPV vaccines has presented a significant tool in combating the burden of this malignancy, with notable successes observed in various countries, the latter due to their impact on immune responses. The review synthesizes current knowledge, emphasizes the importance of continued research and strategies for cervical cancer prevention, and underscores the need for ongoing efforts in this field.

Cervical Cancer and a History of Incarceration: Examining a Social Determinant of Health.

Females who are incarcerated are disproportionately burdened by cancer, particularly cervical cancer. We measured the odds of cervical cancer compared with nonscreenable cancers for females who were incarcerated before diagnosis. By comparing a cancer for which screening and vaccination are available with cancers for which neither are available, we aimed to assess the relationship of incarceration with diseases for which preventive care mitigates risk. We created a novel data set combining cancer data from a large cancer center with incarceration data from the state department of corrections. We then estimated the odds of cervical cancer relative to nonscreenable cancers for those with and without a history of incarceration. Females with a history of incarceration had greater odds of being diagnosed with cervical cancer compared with nonscreenable cancers (odds ratio = 7.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.4-11.0) relative to those who had not been incarcerated. Adjusting for race and age, the odds of cervical cancer remained significantly greater for those with a history of incarceration (adjusted odds ratio = 3.86; 95% CI: 2.3-6.3). Our findings support the need for expanded cervical cancer screening and vaccination opportunities for incarcerated females and increased access to preventive health care after release.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Awareness and Acceptability for Primary Prevention of Cervical Cancer in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is the most effective option for primary prevention HPV, a well-known cause of cervical cancer.  The objective of the study was to assess awareness of HPV, the acceptability of its vaccine and factors associated with the acceptability among the adult population in Pakistan. MATERIALS & METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult population of Pakistan from January 2022 and March 2022. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, instead of face-to-face interviews, a self-administered questionnaire was developed and distributed through Google Forms. The questionnaire was available in both English and Urdu languages to cater to a diverse population. RESULTS: Overall, 313 (65.2 %) study participants had heard about HPV infection, while 297 (61.9%) knew HPV as the cause of genital warts and 256 (53.3 %) knew that HPV can cause any type of cancer, with a higher percentage of awareness among those who were in any health care setting compared to those who were in a non-healthcare setting. Regarding the acceptability to get HPV vaccine, 320 (66.7%) of the study participants were willing to get vaccinated, while only 15(3.1%) of the study population had previously received HPV vaccine. The most important factors associated with HPV vaccine acceptability were younger age of 18-25 years (Prevalence Ratio (PR) =1.60, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) =1.11, 2.32), and 26-35 years (PR= 1.65, 95% CI=1.09, 2.50). HPV vaccine acceptability was also associated with working in a healthcare setting due to better awareness of HPV vaccine (PR= 1.29, 95% CI=1.03, 1.62). CONCLUSION: It is important to address the knowledge gaps existing in the community about HPV vaccine acceptability and barriers against it for the successful rollout of the HPV vaccination program in Pakistan. Mass awareness campaigns about HPV, HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer are needed to increase the acceptability of HPV vaccine among public at the time of reintroducing HPV vaccine.

Evidence of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination at the Community Level in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Effective vaccines for the prevention of cervical cancers are available in India. The existing knowledge and attitude regarding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine varies widely among available studies. Our study aimed to estimate pooled prevalence related to knowledge, attitude, and practice of HPV vaccination in India. METHODOLOGY: We conducted systematic searches in PUBMED, EMBASE, CINHAL, PROQUEST, and Cochrane Library databases using database-specific search strategies. The random effects model was used for estimating the pooled proportion of knowledge, attitude, and practice. The outlier studies were identified using the Baujat test. Egger's regression test and funnel plots were used to identify publication bias. RESULTS: Database-specific search strategies yielded 2,377 records from five databases. We identified 48 studies for full-text retrieval after screening titles and abstracts. Finally, 27 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of knowledge regarding HPV vaccines in India was 0.22 (CI;0.14-0.31, I2 =99.5%). The pooled prevalence of positive attitudes towards the uptake of HPV vaccines in India was 0.45 (CI;0.33-0.57, I2 =100%). The pooled prevalence of coverage of HPV vaccines in India was 0.04 (CI;0.02-0.07, I2 =96%). Significant publication bias was present for the studies' reported knowledge and coverage. CONCLUSION: The knowledge, attitude, and coverage of the HPV vaccine were low in India. It suggests effective strategies to improve knowledge and attitudes towards HPV vaccination in India.

Knowledge and perception of HPV vaccination among Lebanese mothers of children between nine and 17 years old.

BACKGROUND: The human papillomavirus (HPV), a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, is linked to a wide range of diseases, with cervical cancer being the most common and serious one. HPV vaccination is crucial for preventing cervical cancer and other HPV-related problems. The low acceptability of HPV vaccination among teenagers globally is largely due to a lack of understanding and information about HPV among parents. Our study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitude, intention, and HPV vaccination among parents in Lebanon as well as the variables influencing Lebanese mothers' intentions to vaccinate their children. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey-based study involving 392 participants was conducted between May and June 2022. The study assessed parents' intention to vaccinate their children against HPV, their knowledge about HPV, and the HPV vaccine. The data was collected through an anonymous electronic questionnaire. A bivariate analysis was conducted using Student t-test and ANOVA to examine the relationship between the dependent variable "Intention to vaccination" and the secondary variables. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05 for all data. RESULTS: Our findings showed that only 63% of the 392 participants claimed they would give their child the HPV vaccination. A positive significant association was demonstrated between "Intention to vaccinate against HPV" and mother's nationality, father's educational level, family income per month, information received about the HPV vaccine, parents' HPV vaccination, insurance coverage of the HPV vaccine, children's vaccinations with all required vaccines, knowledge of HPV, and knowledge of the HPV vaccine. Furthermore, when parents know about HPV, their desire to vaccinate their child increases by a factor of 1.832 times, and by 1.207 times when their knowledge level increases by one point. CONCLUSION: The majority of parents lacked a general understanding of most HPV-related statements, which highlights the requirement for educational interventions to raise parental awareness, understanding, and attitudes toward HPV and, as a result, increase parental acceptance of vaccinating their children. To increase the vaccination rate among adolescents, government authorities should ensure that the HPV vaccine is available in all hospitals and clinics and should be provided free of charge.

Knowledge and Awareness of HPV, the HPV Vaccine and Cancer-Related HPV Types among Indigenous Australians.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is a common, preventable, sexually transmitted disease with oncogenic potential and increasing incidence. This study aimed to gain an understanding of the knowledge and awareness of HPV, the HPV vaccine, and HPV-related cancers, and to evaluate the relationship between participant factors and HPV knowledge, vaccination uptake, and high-risk HPV (16/18) infection, among Indigenous Australians. Data from the 12-month follow-up of a longitudinal cohort study were utilized, involving 763 Indigenous Australian adults in South Australia. The data analysis found that the mean 7-item HPV knowledge tool (HPV-KT) score was 2.3 (95% CI: 2.1-2.4), HPV vaccination prevalence was 27.0% (95% CI: 23.6-30.5) and oral HPV 16/18 infection was 4.7% (95% CI: 3.2-6.2). Multivariable log-Poisson regression models showed ratios of approximately 1.5 times higher HPV-KT scores in females, previous recreational drug users, those who had self-rated as having excellent, very good or good general health and who had heard of HPV; and participants who were not HPV vaccinated had 0.8 times (MR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.7-0.9) lower HPV-KT scores than their counterparts. The findings suggest that culturally safe education strategies are a necessary investment to improve vaccination coverage among Indigenous Australians and to reduce the impact of HPV and related cancers.

Rapid immunoassay for dual-mode detection of HPV16 and HPV18 DNA based on Au@PdPt nanoparticles.

Cervical cancer (CC) remains one of the most severe global health challenges affecting women, primarily due to persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes, particularly with HPV16 and HPV 18. Effective detection of these high-risk HPV strains is crucial for CC prevention. Current screening programs for HPV DNA include PCR and in situ hybridization, which are accurate and sensitive. However, these approaches demand a high level of expertise, along with expensive instruments and consumables, thus hindering their widespread use. Therefore, there is a compelling demand to develop an efficient, straightforward, and cost-effective method. Herein, we propose a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) method based on Au@PdPt nanoparticles for the simultaneous detection and genotyping of HPV16 and HPV18 within 15 min. This innovative approach allows for qualitative assessment by the naked eye and enables semi-quantitative detection through a smartphone. In this study, under optimal conditions, the qualitative visual limits of detection (vLOD) for HPV16 and HPV18 reached 0.007 nM and 0.01 nM, respectively, which were 32-fold and 20-fold more sensitive than conventional AuNPs-LFIA for HPV16 and HPV18, respectively. Meanwhile, semi-quantitative limits of detection (qLOD) for HPV16 and HPV18 were 0.05 nM and 0.02 nM, respectively. In conclusion, our formulated approach represents a significant step forward in HPV detection and genotyping, with the potential to enhance accessibility and effectiveness in the early diagnosis of CC at the point of care and beyond.

Opportunities for cancer prevention at syringe services programs: acceptability of HPV self-sampling and vaccination among people who inject drugs.

INTRODUCTION: Despite having a high risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections, people who inject drugs (PWID) often do not receive recommended HPV screenings due to barriers to healthcare. Guideline-based cervical HPV screening and vaccination can prevent cervical cancer. Low-cost, low-barrier methods for cancer screening and prevention are important for vulnerable communities such as PWID. METHODS: We examined acceptability of HPV self-sampling at a syringe services program (SSP). Participants with a cervix (n = 49) participated in patient education followed by a survey to assess willingness to perform HPV self-sampling versus standard of care. RESULTS: 59% found self-sampling to be acceptable, citing privacy, ease, and quickness. Among those opting for HPV screening delivered by a provider (n = 16), participants cited concerns about adequate sampling (81%) and test accuracy (75%). Notably, only 18% of participants reported complete HPV vaccination. CONCLUSION: Cervical HPV self-sampling was acceptable to PWID. SSP-based efforts to provide preventative health services could place tools for cancer screening into the hands of PWID, a need-to-reach community.

Knowledge of cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and acceptance of the HPV vaccine among parents of daughters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the eighth most prevalent cancer among women nationwide, with 358 new cases reported annually. One of the strategies to prevent it is getting vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of this cancer. METHODS: A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the acceptance of the HPV vaccine among parents of daughters and their knowledge of three domains: cervical cancer, HPV, and the HPV vaccine. RESULTS: 390 parents participated in the study, with 88.2% female, 39.74% of the participants aged between 36-62 years old, and 62.56% holding a bachelor's degree or above. Parents were more aware of cervical cancer (78.97%), followed by HPV (50%) and the HPV vaccine (41.28%). Awareness levels about cervical cancer were significantly different among males and females, while awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine was significantly associated with parents' education levels. For instance, parents with a bachelor's degree or higher (54.9%) demonstrated greater awareness of HPV compared to parents with a high school diploma (41.9%) or a middle school diploma or less (41.5%). The overall participants' knowledge scores in all three domains were poor, with an average below 50%. 60% of parents believed their daughters should receive the HPV vaccine. CONCLUSION: More than half of the study participants are willing to vaccinate their daughters with the HPV vaccine despite their poor knowledge of the assessed domains. Awareness levels of HPV and the HPV vaccine are associated with education levels. We believe raising awareness among parents is necessary to improve the acceptance level of the HPV vaccine.