Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis - A Forgotten Disease?
Dr. Shaun Adam - Stellenbosch University
The question is whether RRP is a forgotten disease only for high-income developed countries? We know that the incidence remains high in South Africa, JORRP forms 80% of our RRP patients, and they commonly present with stridor, acute airway compromise, and / or respiratory distress. Africa is both the second largest and second most populated continent. It has been modelled to be the fastest growing population on Earth, with more than half of the world’s growth estimated to be from Africa by 2100. Most countries in Africa have high fertility rates and little family planning. Forty-one percent of the African population is reportedly younger than 15 years of age.
The aim of the study is to investigate JORRP and AORRP patients at Tygerberg Hospital. Tygerberg Hospital serves a direct population of roughly 3.8 million people. The total population of the Cape Town metropole is 4.77 million and that of the Western Cape province 7.43 million. However, we also treat many patients from other provinces and numerous countries from Sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of the JORRP and AORRP patients has never been described, nor the HPV subtypes, for Tygerberg Hospital. The aim is to collect and analyse local data. We have also been vaccinating children with RRP, with quadrivalent Gardisil® (HPV 6,11,16 and 18) for many years but have never studied and reported on them. Lastly, we would like to investigate the association between HIV status and RRP disease both from a child’s and mother’s perspectives.
Empowering Women, Enhancing Care: Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs that impact health-seeking behaviors among women living with HIV with vulvar precancer and cancer in Zimbabwe
Dr. Tarisai Kufa - University of Zimbabwe
Women living with HIV (WLWH) face numerous health challenges, including an increased risk of developing vulvar precancer and cancer due to persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Contrary to studies suggesting that vulvar cancer primarily affects the elderly, WLWH experience this disease at a younger age. Additionally, vulvar-intra-epithelial neoplasia (VIN), a precursor to vulvar cancer, tends to be extensive, multifocal, and recurrent after treatment. Late-stage presentation is common among women with vulvar cancer, leading to poor outcomes with embarrassment, cancer-related anxiety, and lack of awareness about symptoms being highlighted as some of the reasons. This study aims to evaluate the factors impacting health-seeking behaviors in WLWH with vulvar precancer and cancer in Zimbabwe and describe their lived experiences. A mixed-method study will recruit WLWH with histologically confirmed VIN or vulvar cancer between January 2023 and April 2024. The study will be conducted at Newlands Clinic, an outpatient facility providing integrated HIV and sexual reproductive health services. Participants will be enrolled using convenience sampling and data will be collected using questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Thematic content analysis will be employed for qualitative analysis to identify recurring themes. Emerging themes will be noted in the margins, which will inform the development of a coding scheme. Descriptive statistics will be used for quantitative. Binary and categorical variables will be summarized using frequencies and proportions.