Pamela Toliman

Field Evaluation of Xpert HPV Point-of-Care Test for Detection of Human Papillomavirus Infection by Use of Self-Collected Vaginal and Clinician-Collected Cervical Specimens

ABSTRACT The World Health Organization has recommended that testing for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) (hrHPV) infection be incorporated into cervical screening programs in all settings worldwide. In many high-burden, low-income countries, it will not be feasible to achieve high cervical screening coverage using hrHPV assays that require clinician-collected samples. We conducted the first evaluation of self-collected vaginal specimens compared with clinician-collected cervical specimens for the detection of hrHPV infection using the Xpert HPV test. Women aged 30 to 54 years attending two well-woman clinics in Papua New Guinea were invited to participate and provided self-collected vaginal and clinician-collected cervical cytobrush specimens. Both specimen types were tested at the point of care by using the Xpert HPV test. Women were given their cervical test result the same day. Those with a positive hrHPV test and positive examination upon visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid were offered same-day cervical cryotherapy. A total of 1,005 women were enrolled, with 124 (12.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.3%, 14.4%) being positive for any hrHPV infection. There was a 99.4% overall percent agreement (OPA) between vaginal and cervical tests for HPV-16 (95% CI, 98.9%, 99.9%), a 98.5% OPA for HPV-18/45 (95% CI, 97.7%, 99.3%), a 94.4% OPA for other hrHPV infections (95% CI, 92.9%, 95.9%), and a 93.4% OPA for all hrHPV types combined (95% CI, 91.8%, 95.0%). Self-collected vaginal specimens had excellent agreement with clinician-collected cervical specimens for the detection of hrHPV infection using the Xpert HPV test. This approach provides for the first time an opportunity to incorporate point-of-care hrHPV testing into clinical cervical screening algorithms in high-burden, low-income settings.

Prevalence and risk factors of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis and other sexually transmissible infections among women attending antenatal clinics in three provinces in Papua New Guinea: a cross-sectional survey

Background Papua New Guinea (PNG) is estimated to have among the highest prevalences of HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) of any Asia-Pacific country, and one of the highest burdens of maternal syphilis globally. The prevalence of curable STIs, such as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), among pregnant women in PNG is relatively unknown. METHODS A cross-sectional bio-behavioural survey to investigate the epidemiology of CT, NG, TV and other STIs among pregnant women in three provinces of PNG was undertaken. Women aged 18-35 years attending their first antenatal clinic visit were invited to participate. Participants completed a short interview and provided self-collected vaginal specimens for CT, NG and TV laboratory-based nucleic acid amplification tests and a venepuncture specimen for laboratory testing for syphilis and Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) serology. Routine antenatal assessment was conducted according to national guidelines, including HIV counselling and testing and point-of-care syphilis screening. RESULTS A total of 765 women were enrolled. Overall, 43% (95% confidence interval (CI): 39.2-46.4) had one or more of CT, NG or TV infection. CT was the most prevalent STI (22.9%, 175/765; 95% CI: 19.9-25.9), followed by TV (22.4%, 171/765; 95% CI: 19.4-25.4), and NG (14.2%, 109/765; 95% CI: 11.7-16.7). The prevalence of active syphilis was 2.2% (17/765; 95% CI: 1.2-3.3), HSV-2 was 28.0% (214/765; 95% CI: 24.8-31.2) and HIV, 0.8% (6/765; 95% CI: 0.2-1.4). Prevalences were highest among primigravid women, women aged <25 years, and among those in Central Province. CONCLUSION High prevalences of curable genital STIs were observed among women attending routine antenatal clinic services in PNG. These infections have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and could be important contributors to poor maternal and neonatal health in this setting.Background: Papua New Guinea (PNG) is estimated to have among the highest prevalences of HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) of any Asia-Pacific country, and one of the highest burdens of maternal syphilis globally. The prevalence of curable STIs, such as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), among pregnant women in PNG is relatively unknown. Methods: A cross-sectional bio-behavioural survey to investigate the epidemiology of CT, NG, TV and other STIs among pregnant women in three provinces of PNG was undertaken. Women aged 18-35 years attending their first antenatal clinic visit were invited to participate. Participants completed a short interview and provided self-collected vaginal specimens for CT, NG and TV laboratory-based nucleic acid amplification tests and a venepuncture specimen for laboratory testing for syphilis and Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) serology. Routine antenatal assessment was conducted according to national guidelines, including HIV counselling and testing and point-of-care syphilis screening. Results: A total of 765 women were enrolled. Overall, 43% (95% confidence interval (CI): 39.2-46.4) had one or more of CT, NG or TV infection. CT was the most prevalent STI (22.9%, 175/765; 95% CI: 19.9-25.9), followed by TV (22.4%, 171/765; 95% CI: 19.4-25.4), and NG (14.2%, 109/765; 95% CI: 11.7-16.7). The prevalence of active syphilis was 2.2% (17/765; 95% CI: 1.2-3.3), HSV-2 was 28.0% (214/765; 95% CI: 24.8-31.2) and HIV, 0.8% (6/765; 95% CI: 0.2-1.4). Prevalences were highest among primigravid women, women aged <25 years, and among those in Central Province. Conclusion: High prevalences of curable genital STIs were observed among women attending routine antenatal clinic services in PNG. These infections have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and could be important contributors to poor maternal and neonatal health in this setting.

Dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut is associated with reduced risk of HIV, syphilis and genital herpes in men: a cross-sectional study in Papua New Guinea

Introduction: Various forms of penile foreskin cutting are practised in Papua New Guinea. In the context of an ecological association observed between HIV infection and the dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut, we undertook an investigation of this relationship at the individual level.

Ambiguous bodies, uncertain diseases: knowledge of cervical cancer in Papua New Guinea

ABSTRACT Objectives: Within their local realities, people experience and interpret disease in diverse ways that do not necessarily correlate or converge with Western biomedical interventions. In the high cervical cancer burden setting of Papua New Guinea, understanding how people experience and interpret cervical cancer is necessary for effective intervention. Drawing on work by Street on the production of unstable biomedical knowledge, we explored how ambiguity and uncertainty, coupled with cultural taboos and linguistic limitations, affect what and how people ‘know’ about women’s reproductive organs and their associated disease. Design: A qualitative research approach was used to explore and understand how people in PNG articulate matters of health and disease as they relate to cervical cancer and HPV infection. Specifically, how unstable biomedical knowledge is produced and sustained. We employed a mixed-methods approach in collecting data from 208 (147 women) participants between 2011 and 2012 across 3 provinces in PNG. Results: We found that knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer were poor. Five thematic areas emerged in our analysis, which included the gendered knowledge of women’s reproductive health, the burden of cervical cancer in the community and the role (or limitation) of language. We further identified four ways in which ambiguity and uncertainty operate on both sociocultural and biological levels, and in the intersection between to produce unstable biomedical knowledge. These included poor knowledge of where the cervix is located and the uncertainty or unreliability of (lay) diagnoses of disease. Conclusion: Local understandings of cervical cancer reflected the limitations of Tok Pisin as a lingua franca as well as the wider uncertain biomedical environment where diagnoses are assembled and shared. There is a clear need to improve understanding of the female reproductive organs in order that people, women in particular, can be better informed about cervical cancer and ultimately better receptive to intervention strategies.

Association between visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid examination and high‐risk human papillomavirus infection, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has among the highest estimated burdens of cervical cancer globally but currently has no national cervical screening program. Visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA) is a low‐cost screening strategy endorsed by the World Health Organization that has been adopted in many low‐resource settings but not previously evaluated in PNG.

Innovative approaches to cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract The estimated cervical cancer burden is over ten-fold greater in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in high-income countries. This health gap is thought to be primarily due to limited access to effective screening and treatment programs for cervical pre-cancer and cancer in such settings. The World Health Organization advocates a policy of ‘screen and treat’ approach to cervical screening in LMICs and subsequently visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA) or Lugo’s iodine (VILI), followed by ablative cervical cryotherapy if indicated, and this policy has been implemented in many high-burden settings. The performance of VIA/VILI as a primary screening tool for the detection of cervical pre-cancer and cancer has, however, been inconsistent. Recently, many high-income countries have integrated HPV-DNA testing into their cervical cancer screening programs. The comparatively high cost and resource requirements of HPV-based screening have to date prevented many LMICs from doing the same. A significant development has been the entrance of innovative, easy-to-use and highly accurate HPV tests that can be provided at point of care; these could enable LMICs to implement ‘test and treat’ approaches for cervical cancer screening.