Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Cancer of the cervix is second type of cancer among women in developing countries, and a common problem among women of low socio-economic status in rural communities. The spiral increase of the problem is aggravated by some socio-economic, structural, cultural and political factors. Understanding the risk factors associated with the disease is a step forward towards effective prevention and treatment. Numerous studies have been conducted on knowledge and perceptions of cervical cancer however the information on cervical cancer is still not reaching the majority of women. The study explored the perceptions and attitudes of rural women of Matebeleng village towards cervical cancer, the risk factors, screening tests and the HPV vaccines. A qualitative exploratory case study was conducted. Self-reported data was collected from 22 women. Two focus groups of 7 and 9 and 6 face-face individual interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Data was analysed thematically. The research findings revealed that the majority of women in the rural area where the study was conducted never heard of cervical cancer and only few received inadequate information. Few highlighted some of the risk factors but some information was incorrect. Very few participants had only once been screened and the majority have never been tested for cervical cancer. Some became aware of the vaccine through the consent forms from school even though they did not exactly understand the content. The sources of information were the radio, health clinic and random women. The concerns of those who were screened were lack of feedback from the clinic nursing staff after the test, lack of adequate preparation and information before been screened to allay fear and doubt of the unknown and lack of reach out programmes to rural communities. The methods of disseminating information to rural women in their distinct contexts should be examined. Conventional traditional ways of reaching out to rural women could perhaps produce improved results through the integrated approach involving multi-disciplinary teams in educating communities. Key Words: Perceptions, attitudes, rural-based women, cervical cancer, risk factors, screening tests, HPV vaccine

Neste trabalho produzo uma descrição do processo de implantação da vacina contra o HPV (papilomavírus humano) no sistema público de saúde brasileiro, a partir da leitura dos documentos do Ministério da Saúde que abordam as decisões e as justificativas para inclusão da vacina nos Calendários de Vacinas do Programa Nacional de Imunizações. Nesses documentos, percebo os campos de especialização e os métodos científicos que legitimam a necessidade da tecnologia da vacina, além das articulações econômicas envolvidas e a forma como o processo de implantação é escrito e disponibilizado para acesso “aos cidadãos”, o que me permite uma abordagem das coproduções entre as práticas de Estado e os conhecimentos científicos que performam o HPV e o câncer de colo do útero. A vacinação com foco na prevenção desse câncer começou em 2014, direcionada para meninas (entre 9 e 13 anos). Em 2015, foi ampliada para meninas e mulheres vivendo com HIV/Aids (9-26 anos) e, em 2017, para meninos (9-13 anos) e meninos e homens vivendo com HIV/Aids (9-26 anos). Nesse sentido, considerando essa divisão do público a que se direciona e suas justificativas nos documentos, proponho também uma discussão sobre as interferências dessa política de saúde (e de conhecimento sobre corpos) no performar de diferenças entre os sexos. / In this work I produce a description of the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine implantation process in the Brazilian public health system, based on the Ministry of Health documents that address the decisions and justifications for inclusion of the vaccine in the Vaccine Calendars of the National Immunization Program. In these documents, I understand the fields of expertise and the scientific methods that legitimize the need for vaccine technology, as well as the economic articulations involved, and the way the implantation process is written and made available for "citizen" access, what allows me to approach coproductions between state practices and scientific knowledges that enact HPV and cervical cancer. Vaccination focused on the prevention of this cancer began in 2014, targeted at girls (between 9 and 13 years old). In 2015, it was expanded for girls and women living with HIV/AIDS (9-26 years old) and in 2017 for boys (9-13 years old) and boys and men living with HIV/AIDS (9-26 years old). In this sense, considering this division of the public targeted and its justifications in the documents, I also propose a discussion on the interferences of this health policy (and knowledge policy about bodies) in the enactment of differences between sexes.

Neste trabalho produzo uma descrição do processo de implantação da vacina contra o HPV (papilomavírus humano) no sistema público de saúde brasileiro, a partir da leitura dos documentos do Ministério da Saúde que abordam as decisões e as justificativas para inclusão da vacina nos Calendários de Vacinas do Programa Nacional de Imunizações. Nesses documentos, percebo os campos de especialização e os métodos científicos que legitimam a necessidade da tecnologia da vacina, além das articulações econômicas envolvidas e a forma como o processo de implantação é escrito e disponibilizado para acesso “aos cidadãos”, o que me permite uma abordagem das coproduções entre as práticas de Estado e os conhecimentos científicos que performam o HPV e o câncer de colo do útero. A vacinação com foco na prevenção desse câncer começou em 2014, direcionada para meninas (entre 9 e 13 anos). Em 2015, foi ampliada para meninas e mulheres vivendo com HIV/Aids (9-26 anos) e, em 2017, para meninos (9-13 anos) e meninos e homens vivendo com HIV/Aids (9-26 anos). Nesse sentido, considerando essa divisão do público a que se direciona e suas justificativas nos documentos, proponho também uma discussão sobre as interferências dessa política de saúde (e de conhecimento sobre corpos) no performar de diferenças entre os sexos. / In this work I produce a description of the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine implantation process in the Brazilian public health system, based on the Ministry of Health documents that address the decisions and justifications for inclusion of the vaccine in the Vaccine Calendars of the National Immunization Program. In these documents, I understand the fields of expertise and the scientific methods that legitimize the need for vaccine technology, as well as the economic articulations involved, and the way the implantation process is written and made available for "citizen" access, what allows me to approach coproductions between state practices and scientific knowledges that enact HPV and cervical cancer. Vaccination focused on the prevention of this cancer began in 2014, targeted at girls (between 9 and 13 years old). In 2015, it was expanded for girls and women living with HIV/AIDS (9-26 years old) and in 2017 for boys (9-13 years old) and boys and men living with HIV/AIDS (9-26 years old). In this sense, considering this division of the public targeted and its justifications in the documents, I also propose a discussion on the interferences of this health policy (and knowledge policy about bodies) in the enactment of differences between sexes.

<p><em>Objectives: </em> (i) To determine the types and impact of uncertainty in the decision-making process of policy-makers regarding the implementation of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. (ii) To determine the relative strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative knowledge synthesis methodologies as well as their contributing role to the policy-making regarding the HPV vaccine.</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: A systematic review and a meta-ethnography were conducted concurrently. Four different search strategies, of nine different databases, were used to target all potential quantitative and qualitative literature published from 1990 to 2011. Studies were selected after abstract and full-text screening by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by consensus. English language studies of any study design that addressed the HPV vaccine and policy were eligible for inclusion. Quality appraisal of included studies was undertaken using available criteria and tools according to study design. The criteria sets by Tong and colleagues and CASP were used for the qualitative literature while the economic evaluations were appraised with criteria set by Nujiten and colleagues. Quality of the cross-sectional study was not systematically appraised. Data extraction forms were designed for each study type. The data extracted included: study characteristics, types of uncertainty, number of types within each study, policy decision measured as the authors’ final recommendation, and perceptions of the confidence of these recommendations as rated by the reviewers. Chi-square tests were conducted to determine if presence or absence of uncertainty influenced decisions. Pearsons Correlations were conducted to determine the relationship between the amount of uncertainty and perceived certainty of the decision. The qualitative analysis was conducted using steps outlined by Noblit and Hare to determine how studies were related, to translate studies into one another, and to synthesize translations.</p> <p><em>Results:</em> Of the initial pool (n= 865), 21 studies met inclusion criteria and were considered; 17 quantitative and 4 qualititative. (i) The simulation cohorts of the decision analytic models did not vary by study appreciably. Chi square analyses failed to find evidence that policy decisions were influenced by presence or absence of uncertainty. Further, no statistically significant correlation was found between amount of uncertainty and perceived certainty with the funding decision. At least four types of uncertainties were identified in each qualitative study including but not exclusive to cost, public acceptance due to the sexually transmitted nature of HPV, as well as the health care system’s ability to implement and monitor the vaccine. After employing the Noblit and Hare translation process, four broad types were identified: uncertainties around managing different public acceptability viewpoints, the manufacturer’s role and input, the actual vaccine’s characteristics, and the system’s ability to implement a vaccination program. (ii) Specific and measurable outcomes could only be identified <em>a priori</em> for the quantitative studies due to the nature of questions asked. Locating relevant qualitative studies was more complex and time-consuming due to variation in the manner that each study’s defining features and information are catalogued and searched. A lack of reporting in both the qualitative and quantitative studies disabled a thorough assessment of methodological quality. Data extraction only varied in the manner that the data was recorded. The quantitative results consisted of specific types of data (numerical or categorical) while qualitative results were descriptive.Within data analysis, the types of uncertainty were determined through reciprocal translation while the impact of uncertainty was tested using two statistical techniques. These differences highlight the rigidity and flexibility of quantitative and qualitative literature, respectively.</p> <p><em>Conclusions:</em> Using both qualitative and quantitative methods enabled a more complete understanding of the role of uncertainty within the decision-making process. Regardless of the methodology used, each type of knowledge synthesis method provided relevant data in regards to the HPV vaccine; simply from different perspectives.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common cause of sexually transmitted diseases. It is the causative agent of cervical cancer, anal, and penile cancers. The purpose of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of parents towards HPV and HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer in girls aged 9 to 13 years and HPV vaccine uptake. The study was conducted in Sefhare village, in the Central District of Botswana. The researcher selected a quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional research design and data was collected using a questionnaire in face-to-face interviews. The study population consisted of parents of adolescent girls of ages 9-13 years living in four wards of Sefhare village. Data was analysed using SPSS version 19. The study found a high level (71.8%) of knowledge about HPV infection, cervical cancer and HPV vaccine and a positive attitude (81.5%) and behaviour (62%) towards the HPV vaccine. / Health Studies / M.P.H.