title: The Vaccine and Cervical Cancer Screen project 2 (VACCS 2): Linking cervical cancer screening to a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule in the South-West District of Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cancer is a preventable disease with a high prevalence in South Africa (SA), where screening is opportunistic. Primary prevention is now possible through HPV vaccination. In VACCS 1 the feasibility of linking cervical cancer with HPV vaccination was demonstrated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of linking HPV self-testing with a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule and to compare results with VACCS 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  The project was conducted in five schools in the South-West District of Tshwane, Gauteng, SA. Leaflet information on cervical cancer and screening was provided, with requests for consent and assent for a two-dose HPV vaccination of schoolgirls. Female caregivers were invited to take part in HPV self-screening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 965 girls invited for vaccination, 519 (53.7%) had full consent and 518 (99.8%) received at least one vaccine dose. The invited uptake rate was 53.7% and 495 girls received both doses, giving a completion rate of 95.4% v. 82.6% in VACCS 1. Of 1 135 self-screen kits handed out, 560 (49.3%) were not returned. The mean age (standard deviation) of the 160 women who participated in self-screening was 38.7 (7.7) years. HPV testing was negative in 116 women (72.5%), 15 women (9.4%) tested positive for HPV 16 and/or 18, and 27 (16.9%) were positive for non-16/18 oncogenic HPV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from the VACCS projects suggest that school-based vaccine programmes can be successfully implemented. A two-dose schedule allowed for higher completion rates. Linking self-collected HPV screening to HPV vaccination is feasible, is a promising and viable screening strategy, and reached the appropriate age group for screening.
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Snyman
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Dreyer
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Visser
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Botha
authors: F H
authors: FH
authors: van der Merwe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012574:Schools; D013019:South Africa; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines