published_or_final_version / Pathology / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Thesis (MTech (Biomedical Technology))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town, 2002 / Infection \\'ith specific high risk human papilloma"iruses (HPV) has been shown to play a causal role in the development of ceJVical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cenical cancer in women. The development of a prophylactic vaccine to immull.ize women against HPV infection would play a \'ita! role in protecting women against HPV infection and ultimately ceMcal cancer. Despite cancer of the cer\'ix being the second most common cancer in South African women, a literature search reveals that few studies have been performed in South Africa on the types of HPV prevalent in women with CIN or cancer ofthe ceMx. HPVs that infect the anogenital tract have also been shown to infect the oral ca\'ity. However, the HPV prevalence rates vary greatly between studies and the significance of the presence ofHPV in the oral ca\'ity is still not understood. The primary objectives of this study were to establish the HPV prevalence rate infecting women with CIN lesions using a sensitive nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to develop a novel restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method to type the high risk mucosal HPVs detected in these women. The secondary objective of this study was to establish the prevalence rate and HPV types infecting the oral mucosa of women with CIN lesions and to compare these HPV types with those detected in the ceMx. Cemcal punch biopsies were taken from 163 women with CIN lesions and buccal cells were collected from 33 of these participants. DNAwas extracted from the biopsies and buccal samples and PCR using CCRS primers performed to ensure sample adequacy. Nested PCR usmg consensus degenerate primers for HPV was performed on all samples sho\\'wg sufficient amplifiable DNA A novel restriction fragment length pol)morphism (RFLP) method was developed to identify the 10 high risk mucosal HPVs considered human carcinogens of group 1 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (lARC) as well as HPV 11 which is commonly found in the oral cavity.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Not available / text

One hundred women aged 20 to 50 were asked to compare their sexual experience before diagnosis and following treatment for benign and malignant cervical disease. The subjects were divided into five groups: three groups had definite cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), (Class II or III). Two groups were treated with cryotherapy, and one with hysterectomy. One group had a provisional diagnosis of CIN I, but received no treatment. Subjects in the last group had microinvasive cervical carcinoma and were also treated with hysterectomy. All subjects had ovarian function; all were sexually active at the time of treatment. They were interviewed at least six months post-cryotherapy and 15 months post-hysterectomy. All subjects completed a variant version of the Derogatis Sexual Function Inventory (DSFI).

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Pathology / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

MPH / Department of Public Health / Despite the availability of the South African cervical cancer screening guidelines at clinics, women are still seen in the out-patient department of selected rural district hospital in Thulamela Municipality, referred from Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities with no cervical cancer screening results. Thus, cervical cancer screenings are done at a hospital and results often came back positive for cervical cancer. Such practices pose a risk of delayed cervical cancer diagnoses and its discovery at an advanced stage, increasing cervical cancer mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the compliance of professional nurses at primary health care facilities to the South African cervical cancer screening guidelines in Thulamela Municipality. This study adopted a qualitative approach as it aimed to get a better understanding on compliance of professional nurses regarding South Africa’s cervical cancer screening guidelines. Nonprobability sampling was used to select primary health care facilities including interested participants who were judged to possess the information that was required to answer the research question of this study. The sample size of the study was determined by data saturation. Trustworthiness was ensured by four criteria of Guba and Linclon, namely credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. A digital recorder was used to log individual responses during interview sessions. Data from the digital recordings were transcribed verbatim. Results were analysed and interpreted thematically. This study established that clinic professional nurses are non –compliance to the South African cervical cancer screening guidelines; nurses face several challenges such as inadequate knowledge of the cervical cancer screening guidelines, shortage of resources and shortage of staff. Recommendations that emanated from the discussion of the findings and the conclusion of this study are likely to have implications and applications for supporting and advancing the cervical cancer screenings. / NRF