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United States Virgin Islands still need to know about HPV, Cervical Cancer, and Condom Use
– Reported, May 24, 2013
Cervical cancer is an infection-related cancer caused primarily by the human papilloma virus. Sexual behavior is a primary risk factor for contracting the genital type of the HPV. While studies have shown that vertical transmission, horizontal transmission, and transmission of the HPV following contact with infected secretions without sexual intercourse are possible, they are not common. The incidence of cervical cancer in the Caribbean is the third highest in the world.
Cervical cancer is an infection-related cancer caused primarily by the human papilloma virus (HPV). There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Approximately 60 HPV types cause warts on non-genital skin, such as on the hands, arms, knees, shins, feet and face. Approximately 40 HPV types can affect mucous membranes and cause genital warts or low-grade changes, high-grade changes, pre-cancer or cancer in the cervix, vagina, anus, vulva, penis, urethra, mouth, throat, tongue or tonsils, in addition, there are other HPV types that do not cause warts, cancer or symptoms.
The genital type of the HPV is usually transmitted skin-to-skin during penetrative vaginal or anal-genital contact. Oral-genital, manual-genital and genital-genital contact can lead to the transmission of the virus. While studies have shown that vertical transmission of the HPV from an infected mother to a newborn, horizontal transmission of the HPV to children following sexual abuse, and transmission of the HPV following contact with infected secretions without sexual intercourse are possible, they are not common.
Women with multiple sex partners have a higher risk of contracting HPV than monogamous women. Other factors that increase a womans risk of acquiring the HPV infection include early age at first intercourse, having a sexual partner who has had many sex partners, and having sex with an uncircumcised male.
Avoiding direct contact with the HPV, which is primarily transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, is deemed to be an effective means of reducing the risk of HPV transmission. Latex condoms have been identified as an effective means for reducing risk of transmitting several sexually transmitted diseases. Consistent and correct use of latex condoms provides some protection against the HPV. However, given that condoms do not cover the vulva, scrotum, perineum, or rectal areas, condoms cannot completely prevent transmission of genital types of the HPV.
In June of 2006, the Food and Drug Administration licensed the first HPV vaccine. The vaccine is indicated for use among girls and women from 9 to 26 years of age for the prevention of cervical cancer, precancerous or dys-plastic lesions, and genital warts. While the HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV, it does provide protection against two HPV types which cause 70% of the cases of cervical cancer and two of the HPV types which cause 90% of the cases of genital warts.
The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and its community partners can promote multi-faceted initiatives that address the questions and concerns enumerated by the women in this study. Health promotion behaviors require informed decision making, which is predicated upon the communication and acquisition of medically accurate and culturally-appropriate information. To take responsibility for ones health by engaging in health promotion behaviors, one must be empowered through knowledge.
The University of the Virgin Islands can provide a venue for diverse stakeholders to come together to discuss HPV and cervical cancer and to stimulate conversations that could lead to the development and implementation of policies and strategies to reduce disparities. Other university-led initiatives ranging from one-on-one conversations to structured empowerment sessions could be employed in a variety of settings to increase awareness of HPV and cervical cancer and other health disorders. The university-led initiatives could include forums for junior high school, high school, and college-aged males conducted by trained male peer educators; forums for females with emphasis on cervical screening, promoting, and supporting adherence to follow-up care of abnormal screening results; and understanding issues related to HPV vaccination led by trained female peer counselors; forums for Parent Teacher Student .
CREDITS.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Sandra Millon Underwood, RN, PhD, FAAN, Professor, Edith Ramsay-Johnson, RN, EdD, Professor Emerita and Director, Lois Browne, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Natasha Caines, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Ashanti Dean, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student and Research Fellows, Samantha Duval, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Ruth Ivalis, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student and Research Fellows, Nishel D. Lawrence, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Nicole Lewis, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Meseret Mulkanen, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student and Research Fellows, Shenella Pogson, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Princess-Onesha Stuard, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Benita Randolph, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Shalini Riley, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Melanie Ruiz, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student, Research Assistant, Jori Russ, SN, Undergraduate Nursing Student and Research Fellows, LaCreessha Averhart, Research Assistant, Tyra De Castro, Research Assistant, and Rashida Dockery, Research Assistant
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